as in withdrawn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
As leaders go, Dynevor (Bridgerton) is recessive and inscrutable, at least in the family get-togethers that form the narrative.
—
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for recessive
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
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
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Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—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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Along the way, Babilonia matured from the shy withdrawn child who refused to hold a boy’s hand into a bold, strong and confident woman.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Brendan Carr, the chairman of the FCC who is rarely shy on any media topic, seized on the issue of accessible sports rights in a post on X earlier this year.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2026
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While the service module falls away to burn up on re-entry over the Pacific, Orion’s crew module will begin its direct path at 400,000 feet altitude, about 1,900 miles shy of its splashdown site .—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The slot cornerback position might be the lone starting spot on the depth chart that lacks an obvious answer.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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Right-hander Edward Cabrera worked around five walks for 5 2/3 shutout innings and Amaya’s one-out RBI single in the eighth stood as the game’s lone run.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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An introverted child, Ortiz grew up enjoying painting and handcrafts, as well as having an interest in engineering and how things are built.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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On the first day of high school, introverted Okuto Nakumara spots his classmate Aiki Hirose in the crowd of an assembly, and immediately falls head over heels for him.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recessive. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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