pushing away
Creating distance forcibly
Pushing away describes creating distance from something or someone, whether physical or emotional.
You might push away a plate when finished eating, or push away someone who tries to get close: She kept pushing away anyone who offered help.
The phrase often implies rejection or resistance to connection.
Act of taking away
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- estrangementEmotional separation between people
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- aloofnessEmotional unavailability, standoffishness
isolation · distancing · disconnection · disengagement · pulling back · shutting down · guarding · self-protection
Intense physical aversion
- revulsionIntense physical disgust
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
- abhorrenceExtreme hatred or disgust
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
repugnance · nausea · recoiling · shrinking · flinching · wincing · cringing · magnetic repulsion
Removal from position
- refusalAct of declining
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- spurningContemptuously refusing or dismissing
decline · veto · disavowal · renunciation · repudiation · rebuke · snub · cold shoulder
Act of escaping detection
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- eludingEscaping or avoiding skillfully
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- circumventionAct of going around
deflection · diversion · skirting · bypassing · escape · ducking · veering · swerving
Protecting from harm
- guardingActively protecting something
- defenseProtection against harm
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- bufferProtective intermediate space
safeguarding · warding · fending off · blocking · screening · insulating · fortifying · securing
Pushing with force
- thrustingPushing with force
- propellingCausing forward motion
- repellingPushing away forcefully
- displacingRemoving from position
clearing · nudging · jostling · elbowing · barging · bulldozing · muscling · heaving
withdrawal
Act of taking away
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- estrangementEmotional separation between people
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
aloofness · isolation · distancing · disconnection · disengagement · pulling back · shutting down · guarding · self-protection · numbness
disgust
Intense physical aversion
- revulsionIntense physical disgust
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
- abhorrenceExtreme hatred or disgust
aversion · repugnance · nausea · recoiling · shrinking · flinching · wincing · cringing · magnetic repulsion · polarity
dismissal
Removal from position
spurning · decline · veto · disavowal · renunciation · repudiation · rebuke · snub · cold shoulder · brush-off
evasion
Act of escaping detection
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- eludingEscaping or avoiding skillfully
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
circumvention · deflection · diversion · skirting · bypassing · escape · ducking · veering · swerving · fending off
shielding
Protecting from harm
- guardingActively protecting something
- defenseProtection against harm
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
buffer · safeguarding · warding · fending off · blocking · screening · insulating · fortifying · securing · sheltering
shoving
Pushing with force
- thrustingPushing with force
- propellingCausing forward motion
- repellingPushing away forcefully
displacing · clearing · nudging · jostling · elbowing · barging · bulldozing · muscling · heaving · swatting
- avoidanceavoidance, distancing, evasion, dodging, withdrawal
- withdrawalwithdrawing, cash withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, early withdrawal, fund withdrawal
- driving awayrepelling, banishing, forcing out, warding off, fending off
- disgustdisgust, disgusting, disgusted, revulsion, repulsion
- repudiatingrenouncing, disclaiming, rejecting, disavowing, disowning
pushing awaypulling in
Reaching a destination
reeling in · drawing in · attracting · beckoning · magnetizing
pushing awayembracing
Holding warmly, willingly accepting
welcoming · drawing in · accepting · letting in · pulling in
pushing awayembracing
Holding warmly, willingly accepting
accepting · leaning into · facing · acknowledging · welcoming