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.
Calling for better enforcement of existing rules by police to stop antisocial behaviour, BFA vice chairman Hubble warned a ban in Ireland had seen a flourishing black market in firework sales.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
Michael Solomon Williams from the Campaign for Better Transport told the BBC antisocial behaviour could be a "real deterrent" to people using public transport, especially those with different accessibility needs.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
Sometimes you’re tired, antisocial or running spectacularly late.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
Yeah, some conflicts are antisocial for sure, but there are conflicts that are prosocial.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Such were their deities in the citadel of dead gods: an obscure human gardener and an antisocial bird.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
