SINCE 1828
reclusive
adjective
re·clu·sive
| \ ri-ˈklü-siv
, -ziv\
, -ziv\
Definition of reclusive
1
: seeking solitude : retiring from society
a reclusive neighbor While Stephen King is far from reclusive, he doesn't spend much time promoting his horror-filled novels.— Sarah Lyall
2
: marked by seclusion or retirement : solitary
… sit under the reclusive calm of the acacia tree.— H. E. Bates
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Examples of reclusive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Since then, art fans, bloggers and amateur genealogists alike have delved into the implausible back story of the reclusive, pack-rat nanny. — Jason Meisner, chicagotribune.com, "Genealogical investigation uncovers 10 heirs of famed Chicago street photographer Vivian Maier," 26 June 2018 North Korea is reclusive, totalitarian and to most of the world, a pariah state. — Bob Drogin, latimes.com, "Here's what you need to know about the Trump-Kim summit in Singapore," 10 June 2018 Kim, the authoritarian, 30-something leader of the reclusive state of 25 million, is accused of having been involved in the assassination of his own half brother at a Malaysian airport two years ago. — BostonGlobe.com, "A long wait in steamy city for glimpse at history in making," 10 June 2018 In 2018, the most reclusive designer pf them all accepted an award (rare), created a new artwork for Garage magazine (rarer), and curated a retrospective of his work at the Palais Galliera (rarest of all). — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "11 Reasons to Be Excited About The Year in Fashion," 4 Jan. 2019 The first follows a beautiful, reclusive hotel guest, the second is a glimpse into what could happen if time offered you a loophole, and the third is the story of the bond between a father and his daughter. — Harper's BAZAAR, "When Meeting Your Mother for the Very First Time, What Do You Say?," 3 Jan. 2019 The first follows a beautiful, reclusive hotel guest, and the second is a glimpse into what could happen if time offered you a loophole. — Harper's BAZAAR, "When the Kids Are in Charge," 11 Dec. 2018 The duo visit the musty apartment of a reclusive language tutor, the elegant suite of a physicist in the employ of the U.S. government, and the shadowy ghetto lair of a brutal young hoodlum. — Tom Nolan, WSJ, "Mysteries: Tales of Three Blood-Soaked Cities," 30 Nov. 2018 The reclusive billionaire was eventually charged with tax evasion. — Kate Storey, Country Living, "10 Things You Didn't Know About Beanie Babies," 17 Dec. 2015These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reclusive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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