dissocialize

dissocialize

A shy child dissocializes himself from the group at the playground.

Definition
  1. Verb (transitive):
    • To make unsociable: "dissocialize" means to cause someone to become disinclined or averse to social interaction, companionship, or communication with others.
Usage Examples
  • Verb:
    • Years of solitary confinement can dissocialize even the most gregarious person. (Prolonged isolation can make someone avoid social contact.)
    • The strict boarding school's harsh rules seemed to dissocialize the new students, who became withdrawn. (The rules made the students unsociable.)
    • His traumatic experience dissocialized him, and he now prefers to be alone. (The experience caused him to dislike socializing.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to dissocialize oneself": to intentionally withdraw from social interaction.

    • After the scandal, he dissocialized himself from his former friends. (He deliberately avoided them.)

  • "dissocializing effect": the result or impact of making someone unsociable.

    • The dissocializing effect of the pandemic led to increased anxiety in public spaces. (The effect made people less inclined to be social.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Dissocial (adj): showing a lack of sociability; unsocial.

    • His dissocial behavior at the party made others uncomfortable. (His unsociable actions.)

  • Dissocialization (n): the process or state of becoming unsociable.

    • The dissocialization of the child was a concern for the teachers. (The process of becoming withdrawn.)

  • Dissociality (n): the quality of being unsociable.

    • Her dissociality was mistaken for arrogance. (Her unsociable nature.)
Synonyms
  • Unsocialize: to make someone less inclined to socialize.
  • Alienate: to cause someone to feel isolated or estranged.
  • De-socialize: to remove the social instincts or habits from someone.
Phrasal Verbs
  • Dissocialize from: to cause someone to withdraw or become distant from a group.
    • The cult leader tried to dissocialize his followers from their families. (He made them avoid family contact.)
Related Idioms

  • Drive into a shell: to cause someone to become very shy or withdrawn.

    • Constant criticism drove him into a shell, dissocializing him over time. (Made him avoid people.)

  • Keep to oneself: to avoid social interaction.

    • The elderly man dissocialized himself and kept to himself for years. (He isolated himself.)