withdrawn
with-DRAWN
/wɪðˈdrɔːn/
Not wanting to communicate with other people; quiet and reserved due to shyness, sadness, or trauma.
Describes emotional pulling back inside oneself, often as a response to distress.
The story behind the word. Past participle of withdraw, combining Old English wiðer ('away, back') and dragan ('to drag or pull'). Literally, pulling oneself back away from others.
Word relationships
- reserved: Reserved implies dignified self-restraint; withdrawn suggests psychological retreat due to hurt or sadness.
- outgoing: Outgoing means friendly, open, and socially active.
Commonly confused with
- aloof: Aloof implies cool distance or superiority; withdrawn implies emotional hurt or introversion.
Word family
- withdraw (verb): to retreat or pull back
- withdrawal (noun): the act of pulling back
Collocations
- become withdrawn
- quiet and withdrawn
- withdrawn child
Idioms & expressions
- pull into one's shell
Example sentences
- "After the tragedy, the child became quiet and withdrawn, refusing to play with friends." Psychological Observation
Memory hook
WITHDRAWN = DRAWN back inside your shell. Pulled back into oneself.
When not to use
Do not use to describe physical objects set apart.
Fun facts
- In Middle English, 'withdrawn' was used to describe military troops falling back from an ambush.
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