socially distant
Physically spaced out
Socially distant describes maintaining physical space from others, especially to prevent disease transmission.
The term became ubiquitous during the COVID-19 pandemic: We stayed socially distant at the outdoor gathering.
It can also describe someone who keeps emotional distance from others, though this sense predates the pandemic usage.
- six feet apartMandated interpersonal gap
- quarantinedIsolated to stop infection
- stay at homeNot venture outside
- far-flungScattered over vast areas
- virtual meetingsRemote digital gatherings
gated communities · loneliness · alone together · disconnectedness · contactless · no contact · isolation · exclusivity · estrangement · remote work · introversion · personal space · lockdown · alienation · segregation · caste systems · detachment · contact tracing
socially distantclose together
In near proximity
side by side · shoulder to shoulder · near · elbow to elbow · up close
socially distantwarm
Moderately heated, or friendly
friendly · intimate · sociable · close-knit · close
socially distantcrowded together
Compressed into limited space
packed in · crowded · crammed · congregated · clustered
social, socially, sociable, sociably, sociability, society, societies, societal, socialism