asocialize

A1S1O1C3I1A1L1I1Z10E1

verb

To cause to become asocial; to disconnect (someone or something) from society or societal norms.

Scrabble 21

Meanings

verbasocialize (third-person singular simple present asocializes, present participle asocializing, simple past and past participle asocialized)

present singular third person asocializes · participle present asocializing · participle past asocialized · past asocialized · alternative asocialise

  1. transitiveTo cause to become asocial; to disconnect (someone or something) from society or societal norms.

    The hysterical claims and missionary-like zeal exhibited by groups who wish to impose their vision of the good upon others is symptomatic of certain asocializing forces in our society.

    1985, Douglas J. Den Uyl, “Smoking, Human Rights, and Civil Liberties”, in Robert D. Tollison, editor, Smoking and Society, Lexington, MA: Lexington Books, page 209
    2 more examples

    […] the physician, in order that he may intelligently attempt to redirect the personality functions, desires to know what the life problems are which have led to this disorganizing and asocialized method of meeting them.

    1940, Arthur Percy Noyes, chapter 8, in Modern Clinical Psychiatry, 2nd edition, Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, page 160

    To optimists, the closing [of Alcatraz] was a sign of a new direction in American corrections. The aim would now be to socialize convicts rather than “asocialize” them by totally withdrawing them from society.

    2006, Freda Adler et al., chapter 13, in Criminal Justice: An Introduction, 4th edition, New York: McGraw-Hill, page 356

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

asocialize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/asocialize

MLA

“asocialize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/asocialize. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “asocialize,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/asocialize.

Source: asocialize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.