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withdrawn

withdrawn

4.8
Someone who is quiet and prefers to be alone instead of being with others
  • adjective
  • /wɪðˈdrɔn/
translation icon : retraído
  • Since moving to a new city, she has become quite withdrawn and prefers to stay at home instead of going out with friends.

And now they're withdrawn because of all this.

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Examples

  • He often seems withdrawn during group meetings, rarely speaking up or making eye contact with others.

  • That first year, he had a tendency to be withdrawn and not to participate.

  • And now they're withdrawn because of all this.

  • Introverts are withdrawn and quiet now.

  • So I tended to become more withdrawn or just a little bit more avoidant whenever people would ask me that question.

  • Like say this person's tearful, they're withdrawn, they clearly have cut out from the world, or they seem sad.

  • They may become very withdrawn, sad, victimized, maybe even frankly depressed.

  • Feeling withdrawn after the breakup, he chose to spend more time alone rather than socializing with his friends.

Synonyms

shy
vswithdrawn
343 1.0

Nervous and likely to avoid people or new situations

is a calm preference for solitude rather than nervousness or low self-confidence
aloof
vswithdrawn
34 6.3

Not friendly and distant, not joining in with other people

is more about preferring solitude and avoiding interaction rather than a cold attitude
reclusive
vswithdrawn
24 7.4

Tends to live alone and avoid other people

is less extreme in isolating, preferring occasional contact rather than full solitude
introverted
vswithdrawn
18 5.8

A person who prefers quiet time and small groups

is more about personal inward interest than avoiding social contact by choice
reticent
vswithdrawn
17 7.9

Not willing to talk about thoughts or feelings easily

is more about preferring to be alone and avoiding social contact rather than just silence
antisocial
vswithdrawn
14 5.1

Preferring to be alone and avoiding social situations

is quieter and more inward, preferring solitude rather than active dislike of people
standoffish
vswithdrawn
9 7.1

Not friendly and keeping a distance from others

is more about choosing quiet solitude and avoiding social contact rather than being rude
diffident
vswithdrawn
4 8.0

Shy and not confident about speaking or acting in front of others

is more about choosing solitude and avoiding others rather than lacking confidence
unapproachable
vswithdrawn
3 6.6

Not friendly and hard to talk to so people avoid them

is more inwardly quiet and prefers solitude rather than deliberately repelling contact
unsociable
vswithdrawn
2 5.3

A person who does not enjoy being with other people

is quieter and more inward, focusing on avoiding contact rather than dislike
avoidant
vswithdrawn
  • Specialized
1 7.7

Not wanting to feel close to others because it causes anxiety

is more about avoiding general social interaction rather than avoiding intimacy only
indrawn
vswithdrawn
1 7.8

A person who is quiet and keeps thoughts and feelings inside

is less about inward thought and more about actively avoiding social contact
dissocial
vswithdrawn
  • UK
8.4

Prefers to be alone and avoids other people

is more about choosing quiet solitude rather than broadly avoiding social contact
reserved
vswithdrawn
3.7

Not willing to show feelings or talk much

is more about avoiding social contact and preferring solitude rather than holding back feelings
introvertive
vswithdrawn
8.2

Being focused on your own thoughts and feelings rather than outside things

is more about choosing solitude rather than simply being inward-looking
introvertish
vswithdrawn
  • Informal
8.9

A little shy and quiet, preferring small groups or being alone

is more strongly avoiding social interaction and being fully solitary in tendency
retiring
vswithdrawn
6.7

A shy, quiet person who does not like attention

is about preferring solitude and avoiding interaction rather than merely avoiding attention
unconversant
vswithdrawn
9.1

Not comfortable joining small talk at parties or work

is more about preferring to be alone rather than lacking conversation skill or comfort

Antonyms

46 3.0

Friendly and confident when talking to other people

21 1.6

Enjoying being with other people and making friends

How Withdrawn

reclusive
24 7.4
withdrawn
4.8
reserved
3.7
sociable
21 1.6

Surface Forms

withdrawn positive

Morphology

withdrawn = withdraw (semi-transparent) = with + draw + n

The transformation from 'withdraw' to 'withdrawn' is clear, but the adjective meaning 'reserved' is not directly derivable from the verb.

Etymology

Withdrawn comes from the verb withdraw, made of with- (an old use meaning 'back' or 'away') and draw ('to pull'). So someone who is withdrawn has 'pulled back' from others, which is why the word means quiet and preferring to be alone.