avoidant
Steering clear habitually
Avoidant describes a tendency to avoid—particularly in psychology, where it characterizes people who withdraw from emotional closeness or social interaction.
An avoidant attachment style develops in childhood and shapes adult relationships.
Someone avoidant in relationships may pull away when intimacy deepens: He gets avoidant whenever we talk about the future.
Lacking courage or confidence
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- introvertedTurned toward inner life
- reservedRestrained in manner
- reticentDisinclined to speak freely
meek · demure · diffident · self-effacing · unassertive · modest · sheepish · inhibited
Troubled by uncertainty
- phobicHaving irrational dread
- averseOpposed or unwilling
- reluctantUnwilling to act
- resistantWithstanding external forces
apprehensive · skittish · gun-shy · risk-averse · commitment-phobic · hypervigilant · distrustful · insecure
Separated from others
- secludedSet apart, private
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- reclusiveSeeking isolation from others
- distantFar away or aloof
solitary · unsociable · hermitic · aloof · unapproachable · disengaged · shut-in · cloistered
Showing contemptuous disregard
- insecureLacking self-assurance
- distancingCreating space or separation
- emotionally unavailableUnable to form bonds
- commitment-phobicAfraid of lasting obligations
push-pull · hot-cold · deactivating · suppressing · compartmentalizing · self-reliant · abandonment · triggering
Hard to find
- deflectingTurning from original path
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- circumventingAvoiding by going around
noncommittal · indirect · vague · cagey · slippery · equivocating · hedging · stonewalling
timid
Lacking courage or confidence
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- introvertedTurned toward inner life
- reservedRestrained in manner
reticent · meek · demure · diffident · self-effacing · unassertive · modest · sheepish · inhibited · coy
anxious
Troubled by uncertainty
resistant · apprehensive · skittish · gun-shy · risk-averse · commitment-phobic · hypervigilant · distrustful · insecure · gunshy
isolated
Separated from others
distant · solitary · unsociable · hermitic · aloof · unapproachable · disengaged · shut-in · cloistered · sequestered
dismissive
Showing contemptuous disregard
- insecureLacking self-assurance
- distancingCreating space or separation
- emotionally unavailableUnable to form bonds
commitment-phobic · push-pull · hot-cold · deactivating · suppressing · compartmentalizing · self-reliant · abandonment · triggering
elusive
Hard to find
- deflectingTurning from original path
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
circumventing · noncommittal · indirect · vague · cagey · slippery · equivocating · hedging · stonewalling · dismissive
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- confrontation styleaggressive, passive, assertive, diplomatic, hostile
- psychobabbletriggered, gaslighting, toxic, trauma bond, narcissist
- attachment stylessecure, anxious, disorganized, ambivalent, secure attachment
- personality disordersborderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, OCPD, personality disorders
- personalitypersonality, trait, temperament, traits, character
avoidantapproaching
Coming toward something
seeking · confrontational · engaging · confronting · pursuing
avoidantsecure
Protected from harm
clingy · dependent · bonded · anxious · emotionally available
avoidantoutgoing
Sociable and unreserved
sociable · social · gregarious · extroverted · engaged
- collision avoidancePreventing objects from hitting
- tax avoidanceLegal payment minimization
- conflict avoidanceShunning direct disagreement
- homework avoidanceShirking assigned schoolwork
- crash avoidanceTechnology preventing vehicle accidents
- debt avoidanceSteering clear of borrowing