aloof

/əˈluːf/adjective

Distant and unfriendly in manner; keeping oneself apart from others.

Example sentence

“The new student seemed aloof, but she was really just shy.”

Describes manner, not distance in space. Usually predicative: someone "remains aloof from" office politics.

Related words

alterTo change something's form or structure.allureThe attractive or tempting quality that draws people toward something.altitudeHeight above a fixed reference point, usually sea level.alleviateTo make pain, suffering, or a problem less severe.altruismUnselfish concern for the well-being of other people, without thought for oneself.allergyAn immune-system overreaction to a normally harmless substance, specifically the type I form driven by immunoglobulin E antibodies.