antisocial
Americanadjective
-
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
-
antagonistic, hostile, or unfriendly toward others; menacing; threatening.
an antisocial act.
- Synonyms:
- intimidating, disruptive
-
opposed or detrimental to social order or the principles on which society is constituted.
antisocial behavior.
-
Psychiatry. of or relating to a pattern of behavior in which social norms and the rights of others are persistently violated.
noun
adjective
-
avoiding the company of other people; unsociable
-
contrary or injurious to the interests of society in general
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of antisocial
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.
Vocabulary lists containing antisocial
Power Prefix: Anti
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We the People: Soc
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: ant-, anti-
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The court also heard a number of mitigating factors, including Khalife's age and a psychological report from 2023 diagnosing him with Antisocial Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
From BBC • Feb. 3, 2025
Antisocial personality disorder is "a severe mental health syndrome that causes people to disregard moral standards, social laws and interpersonal commitments," Hokemeyer said.
From Salon • May 20, 2024
The screenplay by Rebecca Angelo and Lauren Schuker Blum, adapting reporter Ben Mezrich’s 2021 book “The Antisocial Network,” is a model of how-it-went-down storytelling, detail-rich but personality-driven.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2023
"Antisocial is when you strike out at society and have a lot of anger and resentment."
From Fox News • Sep. 27, 2021
Antisocial personality, though it described plenty of guys on R-and-W, seemed also to serve as a catchall for problem inmates who couldn’t otherwise be categorized.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
