as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
a recessive genius who was most comfortable working alone in his chemistry lab
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Recent Examples of recessive
Tucker Langford of Kansas City city suffers from recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), a painful recessive condition which causes peeling, blistering skin, per local news outlets KSHB, KMBC and the Kansas City Star.
—
Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Further examinations revealed that the golden retriever TNNI3 mutation is autosomal recessive.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
Could the pigmentation be the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation affecting pigment-producing cells, or might it be inherited through a recessive trait that only rarely appears?
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Pratt said a majority of the cats up for adoption share the polydactyl trait, usually a recessive gene, which likely became dominant due to inbreeding.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for recessive
Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Further examinations revealed that the golden retriever TNNI3 mutation is autosomal recessive.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
Could the pigmentation be the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation affecting pigment-producing cells, or might it be inherited through a recessive trait that only rarely appears?
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Pratt said a majority of the cats up for adoption share the polydactyl trait, usually a recessive gene, which likely became dominant due to inbreeding.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for recessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recessive
Adjective
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Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
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The Flynns’ pompous neighbor, Jim Doherty, a divorcé with a withdrawn, unpleasant son, encourages Catherine’s artistic rebirth.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Gone is the shy 21-year-old who talked effusively about figure skating, replaced by a young man whose words come in measured and concrete thoughts about a larger purpose.—
Les Carpenter,
Washington Post,
19 Feb. 2026
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Luckily Fleming, a theater graduate who was also one credit shy of a minor in dance, has an arsenal of tools at his disposal to achieve this clarity.—
John Roy,
Vulture,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Vedam’s supporters believe investigators fixated on him as the lone suspect at the expense of other legitimate leads, arguing that his ethnicity played a role in how authorities homed in on him in the early days of the case and at trial.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Barnes’ goal was her first point of the tournament, leaving seventh defender Rory Guilday as the lone American skater to not yet register a point through six games.—
John Wawrow,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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From science fairs to college labs For someone whose work could transform medicine, Liu, 52, is understated — an introverted polymath driven by curiosity.—
Carolyn Y. Johnson,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2026
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Bedard and Celebrini are supremely confident but supremely polite, leaders by example, maybe a little introverted — guarded in public and only goofy in private (and occasionally on Instagram).—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recessive. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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