reclusive

adjective

re·​clu·​sive ri-ˈklü-siv 

-ziv

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

reclusively adverb

reclusiveness noun

Examples of reclusive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The novel tells, among other things, the story of a friendship between Helen DeWitt (at certain points apparently fictionalized as a reclusive, suicidal writer named Rachel Zozanian) and the tabloid journalist Ilya Gridneff. —Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 1 Jan. 2026

Set in the sweltering heat of Atlanta, Anna (Thompson) has becom reclusive, fading away from her friends and career as a news anchor. —Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Jan. 2026

Hokum – In Theaters May 1 The film follows reclusive novelist Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott), who retreats to a remote Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, but the staff’s tales of an ancient witch haunting the honeymoon suite take hold of his mind. —Robert Lang, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025

First, there’s Tom Waits’ sly, semi-reclusive dad being visited by his adult kids (Adam Driver and Mayim Bialik). —Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 23 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for reclusive

• abusive
• allusive
• collusive
• conclusive
• conducive
• delusive
• diffusive
• elusive
• exclusive
• extrusive
• illusive
• inclusive