Communication Styles In Relationships

adjective not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant

adverb in a reserved or distant manner

• The CEO remained aloof during the company's annual meeting.
• She always comes across as aloof, but she's actually quite friendly once you get to know her.
• Don't be so aloof, come hang out with us!
• His mind seemed to drift aloof from the conversation, lost in his own thoughts.

verb to bother or annoy persistently

adjective causing annoyance or irritation through persistent bothering

• The customer kept pestering the sales representative for a discount.
• Stop pestering me with your constant questions!
• Quit pestering me, dude!
• Negative thoughts kept pestering her mind like a persistent fly.

noun the action of walking or moving in a cautious or stealthy manner

verb to tread or move warily or stealthily

• The politician accused his opponent of pussyfooting around the issue during the debate.
• Stop pussyfooting and just tell me the truth!
• Quit pussyfooting and make a decision already!
• She was pussyfooting through the minefield of office politics, trying not to offend anyone.

noun a severe scolding or verbal attack

verb to scold or criticize harshly

• The politician received a tongue lash from the opposition during the debate.
• She gave him a good tongue lashing for forgetting their anniversary.
• The teacher's tongue lash was brutal after catching the students cheating on the test.
• The harsh criticism felt like a tongue lash to his ego.

noun the action of severely criticizing or reprimanding someone

• The CEO gave the employee a tongue lashing for not meeting the project deadline.
• My mom gave me a tongue lashing for forgetting to take out the trash.
• The coach gave the players a serious tongue lashing after they lost the game.
• The politician received a tongue lashing from the public for his controversial remarks.

noun a long, high-pitched complaining cry or sound

verb to complain in a feeble or petulant way

• The child continued to whine about not getting a second dessert.
• Stop whining about having to do your chores.
• Why are you always whining about everything?
• The wind whined through the trees on the stormy night.