recessive

¹re·ces·sive

adjective \ri-ˈse-siv\

Definition of RECESSIVE

1

a : tending to recede

b : withdrawn 2

2

a : producing little or no phenotypic effect when occurring in heterozygous condition with a contrasting allele <recessive genes>

b : expressed only when the determining gene is in the homozygous condition <recessive traits> <a recessive disease>

— re·ces·sive·ly adverb

— re·ces·sive·ness noun

Examples of RECESSIVE

1. <a recessive genius who was most comfortable working alone in his chemistry lab>

First Known Use of RECESSIVE

circa 1673

Related to RECESSIVE

Synonyms

backward, bashful, coy, demure, diffident, introverted, modest, shy, retiring, self-effacing, sheepish, withdrawn

Antonyms

extroverted (also extraverted), immodest, outgoing

Related Words

antisocial, lone, lone-wolf, unsociable, unsocial; awkward, embarrassed, self-conscious, unadventurous, unassertive, unenterprising; inhibited, reserved, uneasy, uptight

Near Antonyms

boon, clubbable (also clubable), companionable, convivial, gregarious, sociable, social; bold, dashing, forceful; brash, forward, overbold, uninhibited, unreserved

Rhymes with RECESSIVE

aggressive, caressive, compressive, concessive, degressive, depressive, digressive, excessive, expressive, impressive, ingressive, obsessive, oppressive, possessive, progressive, regressive, successive, suppressive, transgressive

²recessive

noun

Definition of RECESSIVE

1

: an organism possessing one or more recessive characters

2

: a recessive character or gene

First Known Use of RECESSIVE

1900

Rhymes with RECESSIVE

depressive, ingressive, obsessive, possessive, progressive