Antisocial describes behavior that shows a disregard for other people's rights, feelings, or the rules that help society function smoothly. An antisocial act might be vandalizing park equipment that everyone uses, bullying someone weaker, or deliberately disrupting a classroom so nobody can learn.

The word is often confused with “asocial,” which simply means preferring to be alone. Someone who'd rather read quietly than go to a party isn't antisocial, they're asocial. But someone who ruins the party by breaking things or being cruel to the host? That's antisocial behavior.

Psychologists use antisocial in a more specific way: someone with antisocial personality disorder repeatedly violates others' rights without feeling much remorse. Think of a person who lies, steals, or hurts others and doesn't seem to care about the harm they cause.

In everyday conversation, people sometimes misuse “antisocial” to mean “not social” or “introverted.” But the word carries real weight. True antisocial behavior damages the trust and cooperation that communities need to thrive. When someone consistently acts antisocially, whether through small cruelties or serious violations, they're putting their own immediate desires ahead of the well-being of everyone around them.