aloofness

noun

aloof·​ness ə-ˈlüf-nəs How to pronounce aloofness (audio)
: the quality or state of being aloof or emotionally distant
Her aloofness … did not endear her to the rest of the company …Marybeth Kerrigan
… there was an aloofness in him which the boys and I could never quite bridge.Mildred D. Taylor
His aloofness was … born more of insecurity than of arrogance …David Cannadine
… was respected for his military tenacity and his surprising aloofness from party favoritism.Simon Schama

Examples of aloofness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Popovich’s wry aloofness is a trademark of 21st-century basketball, but the recent outpouring of love for him should warm even the Grinch-iest. Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024 Bobby is, of course, Bob Dylan, played here by Timothée Chalamet in a near-magical performance that throws off all the right kind of sparks: newness, genius, a touch of aloofness that was probably easier for Dylan to fake than modesty and, under it all, a kind of aggressive, combative hunger. Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024 But this is also a city that takes its aloofness with as much seriousness as its artistry. Dana O'Neil, The Athletic, 26 July 2024 Who better than Alain Delon — dashing and with a hint of growing aloofness — to represent a man of such multitudes? Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aloofness 

Word History

Etymology

aloof entry 1 + -ness

First Known Use

1639, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aloofness was in 1639

Dictionary Entries Near aloofness

Cite this Entry

“Aloofness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aloofness. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

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