aloofness
noun
aloof·ness
ə-ˈlüf-nəs 
: the quality or state of being aloof or emotionally distant
Her aloofness … did not endear her to the rest of the company …—
Marybeth Kerrigan
Marybeth Kerrigan… there was an aloofness in him which the boys and I could never quite bridge.—Mildred D. Taylor
Mildred D. TaylorHis aloofness was … born more of insecurity than of arrogance …—David Cannadine
David Cannadine… was respected for his military tenacity and his surprising aloofness from party favoritism.—Simon Schama
Simon SchamaExamples of aloofness in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In its breadth and aloofness, Death to Order feels like a distant cousin of Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y, Johan Grimonprez’s cavorting 1997 documentary about airliner hijackings.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
In short, any time the Obama administration has seemed to embrace a policy of regime change as heartily as the first-term Bush administration did, China has stopped supporting multilateral responses to regional and civil conflicts and pulled back to its earlier aloofness.
—Thomas J. Christensen, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2015
As to these particular colleagues, Miss Manners would have no trouble treating them with a professional aloofness.
—Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2025
Hogan was known for his intense focus, privacy, and aloofness.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for aloofness
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
In short, any time the Obama administration has seemed to embrace a policy of regime change as heartily as the first-term Bush administration did, China has stopped supporting multilateral responses to regional and civil conflicts and pulled back to its earlier aloofness.
—Thomas J. Christensen, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2015
As to these particular colleagues, Miss Manners would have no trouble treating them with a professional aloofness.
—Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2025
Hogan was known for his intense focus, privacy, and aloofness.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for aloofness
Cite this Entry
“Aloofness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aloofness. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share