as in distant
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
an unsociable but not an overtly rude child
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Recent Examples of unsociable
Hospitality fared well in Deputy’s study, making up half of the 10 happiest job sectors, despite the sector’s reputation for high stress, unsociable hours, and low pay.
—
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2025
Ask Amy: My unsociable neighbor doesn't know about me and his wife.
—Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 2 June 2024
To drink too much would be inexcusable; to drink too little would be unsociable.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024
Pact and Bectu have been negotiating over terms of their new collective bargaining agreement since last year, with the crew union wanting more conditions in place regarding unsociable hours and the producers’ body saying that many of the requests are unworkable.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 30 Aug. 2022
For instance, long and unsociable hours are commonplace, and while this is in part due to the shortage of skilled personnel, there is also a cultural element to this that prohibits many from considering it a viable career.
—Adi Gaskell, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2021
The social media generation is increasingly clueless and unsociable.
—Susan Glaser, cleveland, 1 Mar. 2020
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2025
Ask Amy: My unsociable neighbor doesn't know about me and his wife.
—Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 2 June 2024
To drink too much would be inexcusable; to drink too little would be unsociable.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024
Pact and Bectu have been negotiating over terms of their new collective bargaining agreement since last year, with the crew union wanting more conditions in place regarding unsociable hours and the producers’ body saying that many of the requests are unworkable.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 30 Aug. 2022
For instance, long and unsociable hours are commonplace, and while this is in part due to the shortage of skilled personnel, there is also a cultural element to this that prohibits many from considering it a viable career.
—Adi Gaskell, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2021
The social media generation is increasingly clueless and unsociable.
—Susan Glaser, cleveland, 1 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsociable
Adjective
-
The hotel is on a block next to a major road, but the noise is more of a distant city hum than a nuisance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
The forces shaping our lives can often feel distant, abstract, and impossible to grasp — but through adventure, investigation, and deeply human storytelling, The Human Element inspires a sense of hope and connection.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
This is one reason why a partner of someone with avoidant attachment may perceive their partner as emotionally unavailable, overly self-sufficient, detached or distant or resistant to commitment.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
-
The price gap Condos generally cost less than detached homes, which is why first-time buyers often start there.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s the youngest, most freewheeling son’s habit of swilling cold coffee while watching The Gong Show.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Historically, extremely cold temperatures, near absolute zero, were used to put them in a quiet state, which required bulky and expensive systems.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
And, perhaps, his mental-health struggles, his mood swings, and the antisocial behaviors that The Dark Wizard recounts and suggests were the cost of — or maybe the reason for — his athletic prowess.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
That means that the child is inadvertently traumatized and is antisocial.—
Megan Shinn,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On a cool, drizzly day in Oakland, California, the film director Boots Riley often seemed less like a person than like a landmark—clockable from a distance.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
When the air conditioner is on, the driver’s side vent is cold, the rear is cool, but the front passenger side vent is blowing hot air.—
John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsociable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsociable. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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