Antisocial describes a person who tends to avoid social interaction or conflicts, often preferring solitude. It also characterizes behavior that disregards social norms or the well-being of others. The term is used clinically and colloquially to describe traits or actions that resist or resist engagement with social settings.
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"Her reluctance to join group activities labeled her as antisocial, though she simply valued quiet time."
"The psychologist discussed antisocial tendencies as part of a broader personality assessment."
"Some people mistake quietness for antisocial behavior, but it can be situational rather than permanent."
"In the workplace, persistent antisocial behavior can complicate teamwork and morale."
The term antisocial comes from the combination of anti- meaning against or opposite, and social, from Latin socialis meaning of companionship or allies. In English, anti- as a prefix signals opposition or counteraction. The concept in everyday usage traces to social behavior norms and the idea of conduct that opposes or fails to conform to those norms. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw heightened interest in psychology and psychiatry, with terms like antisocial behavior gaining traction to describe actions that undermine social welfare or violate norms. In medical and psychological contexts, antisocial behavior began to be categorized, leading to phrases like antisocial personality disorder in diagnostic manuals. The general, non-clinical use of the word—referring to people who avoid social interaction—emerged in everyday speech earlier but became more common with increased awareness of mental health and personality traits. First known uses appeared in 19th-century English medical and sociological writings, evolving from broader descriptions of behavior in relation to society and its expectations. Over time, the term has widened to describe a spectrum of behaviors from preference for solitude to explicit disregard for social norms. In modern usage, antisocial can describe both personality traits and temporary mood states, and is frequently applied in casual conversation as well as clinical discussion.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "antisocial" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "antisocial"
-cal sounds
-ial sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Say it as /ˌæn.tiˈsoʊ.ʃəl/ in US and /ˌæn.tiˈsəʊ.ʃəl/ in UK/AU. The primary stress is on the third syllable: an-ti-SO-cial. Begin with a clear schwa-less short 'a' and end with a soft 'shuhl' syllable. Think: 'AN-tee-SOH-shuhl,' with the second syllable slightly reduced and the 'social' portion leaning into a final 'shəl' sound. IPA references help confirm vowel quality across dialects.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying an-ti-So-cial with the emphasis on the second syllable), pronouncing the second syllable as a pure 'sə' rather than the 'si' as in 'see', and trying to overly enunciate the final 'cial' as 'see-AL' instead of 'shəl'. Correct by emphasizing the 'SO' syllable, using a short 'o' sound in 'so' and a soft, palatal 'sh' before the final 'əl'.
In US English, /ˌæn.tiˈsoʊ.ʃəl/ with a clear 'oh' in the stressed vowel and rhotic associates. UK and Australian accents typically render the final syllable as /-ʃəl/ with less r-coloring and a slightly more centralized or reduced first vowel in 'an-'. The 'ti' becomes a clear 'tee' sound in many American pronunciations, whereas some UK/AU speakers may yield a lighter, faster transition to the 'shən' feel, depending on regional vowel melting.
The difficulty lies in the sequence of sounds across syllables, particularly the transition from a front, unrounded 'a' to the mid back 'o' in 'social', plus the palatal 'sh' cluster that follows. The shift from the 'ti' to 'sh' consonant needs careful timing and lip shaping, while the final 'əl' requires a quick, relaxed schwa with a light 'l'. Achieve accuracy by isolating the three problematic zones and practicing slow, controlled repetitions.
A distinctive feature is the 'ti' before the 'social' portion, where the 'ti' often interacts with the following 's' to produce a 'tsee' or 'tsi' cluster depending on accent. Maintaining a crisp but not overly explosive t, followed by a smooth 's' into the 'io' vowel helps preserve the natural rhythm. Pay attention to the third syllable’s stress and the rapid, soft transition into the final 'əl'.
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