antisocial
Avoiding other people
Antisocial describes behavior or attitudes that avoid or disregard others.
Someone antisocial shuns company: He's been antisocial lately, turning down every invitation.
The word also means hostile to social order—antisocial behavior violates norms or harms others.
In clinical use, antisocial personality disorder involves persistent disregard for others' rights.
Casually, antisocial often just means preferring solitude: I'm feeling antisocial tonight.
Turned toward inner life
- reclusiveSeeking isolation from others
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
- hermitPerson choosing total seclusion
- lonerOne who avoids company
secluded · shy · reserved · reticent · sequestered · uncommunicative · quiet · timid
Emotional separation between people
- disaffectionLoss of loyalty
- disconnectionState of being severed
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
isolation · anomie · outcast · loneliness · detachment · disengagement · ostracism · rejection
Resisting authority or control
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- anarchistOne opposing all governance
- deviantOne diverging from norms
subversive · iconoclast · maverick · troublemaker · delinquent · unruly · disobedient · lawless
Apart or uninvolved
- distantFar away or aloof
- coldLow temperature state
- standoffishUnfriendly in manner
- unapproachableImpossible to access or befriend
reserved · indifferent · unfriendly · unwelcoming · frosty · remote · cool · impersonal
Hostile and confrontational
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
threatening · intimidating · bullying · violent · malicious · spiteful · vindictive · menacing
Lacking basic politeness
- impoliteLacking good manners
- discourteousLacking good manners
- brusqueAbrupt and dismissive
- curtAbruptly rude in speech
surly · churlish · gruff · ill-mannered · inconsiderate · tactless · abrasive · disagreeable
introverted
Turned toward inner life
- reclusiveSeeking isolation from others
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
- hermitPerson choosing total seclusion
loner · secluded · shy · reserved · reticent · sequestered · uncommunicative · quiet · timid · cloistered
estrangement
Emotional separation between people
- disaffectionLoss of loyalty
- disconnectionState of being severed
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
exclusion · isolation · anomie · outcast · loneliness · detachment · disengagement · ostracism · rejection · separation
rebellious
Resisting authority or control
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- anarchistOne opposing all governance
deviant · subversive · iconoclast · maverick · troublemaker · delinquent · unruly · disobedient · lawless · disruptive
detached
Apart or uninvolved
- distantFar away or aloof
- coldLow temperature state
- standoffishUnfriendly in manner
unapproachable · reserved · indifferent · unfriendly · unwelcoming · frosty · remote · cool · impersonal · offish
aggressive
Hostile and confrontational
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- combativeInclined toward conflict
confrontational · threatening · intimidating · bullying · violent · malicious · spiteful · vindictive · menacing · abusive
uncivil
Lacking basic politeness
- impoliteLacking good manners
- discourteousLacking good manners
- brusqueAbrupt and dismissive
curt · surly · churlish · gruff · ill-mannered · inconsiderate · tactless · abrasive · disagreeable · unpleasant
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- unfriendlyunfriendly, hostile, cold, cool, distant
- criminal psychologycriminal mind, motive, intent, premeditation, psychopath
- Mental Disordersschizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD
- personality disordersborderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, OCPD, personality disorders, borderline
- demeanorbehavior, conduct, deportment, bearing, demeanor
antisocialsocial
Concerning community life
sociable · gregarious · friendly · outgoing · extroverted
antisocialprosocial
Benefiting society or others
altruistic · civic-minded · law-abiding · cooperative · philanthropic
- antisocial behaviorConduct harming community welfare
- antisocial personality disorderPersistent exploitation and remorselessness