antisocial

[ an-tee-soh-shuhl, an-tahy- ]

adjective

1. 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

2. antagonistic, hostile, or unfriendly toward others; menacing; threatening:

   an antisocial act.

   Synonyms: intimidating, disruptive

3. opposed or detrimental to social order or the principles on which society is constituted:

   antisocial behavior.

4. Psychiatry. of or relating to a pattern of behavior in which social norms and the rights of others are persistently violated.

noun

1. a person exhibiting antisocial traits.

antisocial

/ ˌæntɪˈsəʊʃəl /

adjective

1. avoiding the company of other people; unsociable
2. contrary or injurious to the interests of society in general

Derived Forms

• ˌantiˈsocially, adverb

Other Words From

• anti·soci·ali·ty noun
• anti·social·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of antisocial¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; anti- + social

Example Sentences

The pyrotechnics were then used during disorder and antisocial behaviour in Gracemount.

From BBC

There are endless articles about the "male loneliness epidemic," which are well-intended but overlook how too many men follow leaders who openly encourage antisocial behavior.

From Salon

“This crazy antisocial behavior stands out more than it ever has because you can point to all these different causes, but there are so many kids who have more tools in their tool bag than I’ve ever seen.”

From Slate

To call them weird, to banish them to the monstrous hinterlands, is to claw back the ability to define whether behavior is prosocial or antisocial, to determine what principles we should be conforming to.

From Slate

Those polarized responses have only become starker as he increasingly doubles down on his sadistic and antisocial behavior.

From Salon

Related Words

• alienated
• introverted
• standoffish