antisocial

American  

[an-tee-soh-shuhl, an-tahy-] / ˌæn tiˈsoʊ ʃəl, ˌæn taɪ- /

adjective

1. unwilling or unable to associate in a normal or friendly way with other people.

   He's not antisocial, just shy.

   Synonyms:

   misanthropic, retiring, unsociable

   Antonyms:

   affable, genial, gregarious

2. antagonistic, hostile, or unfriendly toward others; menacing; threatening.

   an antisocial act.

   Synonyms:

   intimidating, disruptive

3. opposed or detrimental to social order or the principles on which society is constituted.

   antisocial behavior.

4. Psychiatry. of or relating to a pattern of behavior in which social norms and the rights of others are persistently violated.

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noun

1. a person exhibiting antisocial traits.

antisocial British  

/ ˌæntɪˈsəʊʃəl /

adjective

1. avoiding the company of other people; unsociable

2. contrary or injurious to the interests of society in general

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Other Word Forms

• antisociality
  noun
• antisocially
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of antisocial

First recorded in 1790–1800; anti- + social

Explanation

When someone is antisocial, they're either rude and unmannered or they avoid other people. Either way, they're not the life of the party. This is a word that describes people and behaviors that are not very welcoming to others. Yelling, swearing, pushing, and generally being a jerk are all antisocial behaviors. Being a hermit and avoiding contact with other people is antisocial, too. Though this is a negative word, it's not entirely bad. We all need to get away from others once in awhile, and people who seem antisocial may just need a little space.

Example Sentences

Police said there had been several incidents of antisocial behaviour in the Bishop Street/The Fountain/Nailors Row area in recent weeks.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Sidenfaden’s three-part plan for reform includes restoring consequences for crime and chronic antisocial behavior, making public spaces safe and moving people from encampments into emergency shelters.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

President Lee Jae Myung pledged in a social media post on Saturday to take the "strongest possible" action against "antisocial behaviour that exploits community crises to worsen them and profit from them".

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

Since “Love Is Blind” was minted at the start of the pandemic, it follows that the further we get from its February 2020 debut, the more frequently antisocial patterns learned during lockdowns are emerging.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

He’d assumed the large, silent man was antisocial.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

Related Words

• alienated
• introverted
• standoffish