: a person who leads a secluded or solitary life
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Greta Garbo and Howard Hughes were two of the most famously reclusive celebrities of modern times. She had been a great international star, called the most beautiful woman in the world; he had been an aircraft manufacturer and film producer, with one of the greatest fortunes in the world. It seems that Garbo's reclusiveness resulted from her desire to leave her public with only the youthful image of her face. Hughes was terrified of germs, though that was the least of his problems.
Examples of recluse in a Sentence
Noun
My neighbor is a recluse—I only see him about once a year.
he was sick of cities and crowds, so he decided to go live by himself in the woods as a recluse
Recent Examples on the Web
Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
The new movie finds Cindy as a recluse living in isolation before teaming up with old friend Brenda (Regina Hall) to fight a new Ghostface.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 8 June 2026
Read the rest of her review » More from The New Yorker
Linda Goodman was a recluse who brought astrology to the masses.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
There is an antidote for recluse bites, but severe ulcers may need surgery.
—Eva Flowe
may 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for recluse
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Noun
According to professionals, during an active infestation, the family would typically find 20 to 30 recluses in their traps overnight.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
The new movie finds Cindy as a recluse living in isolation before teaming up with old friend Brenda (Regina Hall) to fight a new Ghostface.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 8 June 2026
Read the rest of her review » More from The New Yorker
Linda Goodman was a recluse who brought astrology to the masses.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
There is an antidote for recluse bites, but severe ulcers may need surgery.
—Eva Flowe
may 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for recluse
Cite this Entry
“Recluse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recluse. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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