Antisocially

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˌæntaɪˈsoʊʃəli/

Definitions

1. In a manner that avoids or opposes social interaction or shows hostility toward society and its norms
2. In a way that actively seeks to withdraw from social interactions and displays an indifference or antagonism toward social norms
3. Acting in a way that steers clear of engaging with others ; behaving in a fashion that defies or disrupts societal expectations

Etymology: "Antisocially" is an adverb built in English from "antisocial" plus the suffix "-ly," which turns an adjective into a manner adverb meaning "in an antisocial way." The suffix itself descends from Old English "-līce," a word that carried the sense of "in the form of" or "in the manner of," which is why the ending works so transparently on so many adjectives. The adjective underneath it is the more layered part. Its first element, "anti-," comes from the Ancient Greek preposition and prefix "anti-," meaning "against" or "opposite to." The second element, "social," traces back to Latin "socius," meaning "companion" or "ally," a word rooted in the idea of sharing life with others. Latin "sociālis" and Middle French "social" passed the sense into English, so "social" originally pointed to companionship and alliance before it came to describe society at large. Put together, "antisocial" literally means "against companionship," and the adverb carries that opposition into the manner of an action, whether someone is withdrawing from others or openly defying the norms a community expects.

Synonyms: withdrawn, reclusively

Antonyms: socially, gregariously