These words are comparable when applied to persons who are, or seem to be, emotionally distant from others. Aloof is applied to persons who are distant in manner or interest, as from a reluctance to associate with those whom they regard as intellectual or social inferiors, or because of habitual shyness or idiosyncrasy.

• She held herself aloof from society, preferring to spend her days and nights dwelling on her memories; She always affected a grand, aloof manner with us poor middle-class people who work for a living.

Detached means free from emotional or intellectual involvement, and often suggests the neutral attitude of the impartial observer: the doctor’s detached approach to pain. Detached may also mean inwardly distracted, emotionally untouchable.

• He always seems so detached about everything; you just can’t reach him at all.

Reserved implies reluctance to express one’s feelings or thoughts. Where reserved emphasizes manner, detached stresses attitude. Both reserved and detached can be associated with attractive qualities, whereas aloof is seldom so considered.

• He was a diffident, scholarly fellow with a reserved but genial manner; He looked about him with a very detached air, and announced to no one in particular that he was about to be sick.