Detached — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /di-ˈtacht/ de·tached

Meaning & Definition of Detached

Detached (adjective)

  1. standing by itself, separate, unconnected; especially, not sharing any wall with another building
  2. exhibiting an often aloof objectivity usually free from prejudice or self-interest

Detached (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others

    "a detached observer at company parties, taking it all in and saying very little"

    similar: aloof, antisocial, asocial, buttoned-up, cold, cold-eyed, cool, distant, dry, frosty, offish, remote, standoff, standoffish, unbending, unclubbable, unsociable
    related: indrawn, introverted, nongregarious, recessive, reclusive, reserved, unsocial, withdrawn, misanthropic, apathetic, hard, indifferent, unconcerned, clinical, dispassionate, impersonal, professional, disinterested, incurious, uninterested, reticent, silent, taciturn, uncommunicative, diffident, shy, timid, cliquey, cliquish, clubbish
    opposite: cordial, friendly, sociable, social, warm
    near: boon, clubbable, clubby, companionable, convivial, extroverted, gregarious, outgoing, communicative, expansive, garrulous, talkative, affable, folksy, genial, gracious, hospitable, agreeable, amiable, congenial, kindly, neighborly

  2. not physically attached to another unit

    "a detached garage on the side of the house"

    similar: disconnected, discrete, free, freestanding, separate, single, unattached, unconnected
    related: independent, self-contained, individual, private
    opposite: attached, connected, joined, linked
    near: adjoining

Detached (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take (something) away from or off of something else to which it is joined

    "Detach the lower portion of the invoice and send it back with your payment."

    similar: removed, separated, broke up, decoupled, disassociated, disconnected, disjoined, disjointed, dissevered, dissociated, disunited, divided, divorced, parted, ramified, resolved, severed, split, sundered, uncoupled, unlinked, unyoked, disengaged, disentangled, unraveled, untied, unfastened, broke, fractured, pulled, rent, rifted, ripped, rived, ruptured, tore, cut off, insulated, isolated, secluded, segregated, sequestered, broke down, decomposed, disassembled, disintegrated, dissolved, bifurcated, bisected, cleaved, dichotomized, dissected, fractionalized, fractionated, halved, partitioned, quartered, segmented, subdivided, trisected, fragmentated, fragmented, fragmentized, cut, gashed, incised, lacerated, notched, slashed, slit, penetrated, perforated, punctured
    opposite: assembled, associated, blended, combined, mingled, mixed, connected, coupled, accumulated, agglutinated, attached, bound, cemented, closed, fastened, fused, knit, stuck, welded, consolidated, joined, linked, merged, unified, united, darned, filled, healed, mended, patched, plugged, repaired, sealed, sewed, stitched, sutured

  2. to avoid engaging with or participating in something

    "They were reticent people, completely detached from social life."

    similar: disengaged, disentangled, pulled away, fled, flew, flinched, recoiled, shrank, chickened (out), bowed out, backed down, backpedaled, backtracked, climbed down, abandoned, departed, evacuated, left, quit, vacated, went, backed away, dropped back, fell back, pulled out, receded, retired, retreated, withdrew
    opposite: bearded, braved, brazened, breasted, confronted, dared, defied, faced, outbraved, advanced

Related Entry: Detach (verb)

Detach is a different word from Detached. The synonyms below are for detach, not for detached.

  1. to take (something) away from or off of something else to which it is joined

    "Detach the lower portion of the invoice and send it back with your payment."

    similar: separate, remove, break up, decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke, disengage, disentangle, unravel, untie, unfasten, break, fracture, pull, rend, rift, rip, rive, rupture, tear, cut off, insulate, isolate, seclude, segregate, sequester, break down, decompose, disassemble, disintegrate, dissolve, bifurcate, bisect, cleave, dichotomize, dissect, fractionalize, fractionate, halve, partition, quarter, segment, subdivide, trisect, fragment, fragmentate, fragmentize, cut, gash, incise, lacerate, notch, slash, slit, penetrate, perforate, puncture
    opposite: assemble, associate, blend, combine, mingle, mix, connect, couple, accumulate, agglutinate, attach, bind, cement, close, fasten, fuse, knit, stick, weld, consolidate, join, link, merge, unify, unite, fill, darn, heal, mend, repair, patch, plug, seal, sew, stitch, suture

  2. to avoid engaging with or participating in something

    "They were reticent people, completely detached from social life."

    similar: disengage, disentangle, pull away, flee, fly, flinch, recoil, shrink, chicken (out), bow out, back down, backpedal, backtrack, climb down, abandon, depart, evacuate, go, leave, quit, vacate, back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, retreat, withdraw
    opposite: beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave, advance

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Detached

The most common words with a similar meaning to Detached:

aloof, antisocial, asocial, buttoned-up, cold, cold-eyed, cool, distant, dry, frosty, offish, remote, standoff, standoffish, unbending, unclubbable, unsociable, disconnected, discrete, free, freestanding, separate, single, unattached, unconnected, removed, separated, broke up, decoupled, disassociated, disjoined, disjointed, dissevered, dissociated, disunited, divided, divorced, parted, ramified, resolved

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Detached

Words with the opposite meaning of Detached:

cordial, friendly, sociable, social, warm, attached, connected, joined, linked, assembled, associated, blended, combined, mingled, mixed, coupled, accumulated, agglutinated, bound, cemented, closed, fastened, fused, knit, stuck, welded, consolidated, merged, unified, united

Related Words for Detached

indrawn, introverted, nongregarious, recessive, reclusive, reserved, unsocial, withdrawn, misanthropic, apathetic, hard, indifferent, unconcerned, clinical, dispassionate, impersonal, professional, disinterested, incurious, uninterested, reticent, silent, taciturn, uncommunicative, diffident, shy, timid, cliquey, cliquish, clubbish

Near Antonyms of Detached

boon, clubbable, clubby, companionable, convivial, extroverted, gregarious, outgoing, communicative, expansive, garrulous, talkative, affable, folksy, genial, gracious, hospitable, agreeable, amiable, congenial, kindly, neighborly, adjoining

Word Forms of Detached

Derived words: detachedly (adverb), detachedness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Detached

First known use: circa 1706

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Detached

Words & Phrases Containing Detached

detached service

Frequently Asked Questions about Detached

What does "Detached" mean?

"Detached" means standing by itself, separate, unconnected; especially, not sharing any wall with another building. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: standing by itself, separate, unconnected; especially, not sharing any wall with another building. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Detached"?

Other words for "Detached" include aloof, antisocial, asocial, buttoned-up, cold, cold-eyed, cool and distant. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Detached" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Detached"?

There are 158 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Detached". Common alternatives include aloof, antisocial, asocial, buttoned-up, cold, cold-eyed, cool, distant, dry and frosty.

What is the opposite of "Detached"?

Antonyms of "Detached" include cordial, friendly, sociable, social, warm, attached, connected and joined. Near antonyms include boon, clubbable, clubby and companionable.

How do you use "Detached" in a sentence?

Examples of "Detached" in a sentence: "a detached observer at company parties, taking it all in and saying very little"; "a detached garage on the side of the house"; "Detach the lower portion of the invoice and send it back with your payment.".

Is "Detached" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Detached" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Detached" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Detached" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Detached"?

"Detached" is pronounced /di-ˈtacht/ and divided into syllables as de·tached.