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

But that doesn’t explain the sudden distance between them, or why the reclusive Irma made the uncharacteristic decision to go to the big parties that open Westish’s school year without telling Pella. — B. D. McClay, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

In Wicker, Skarsgård slipped into a much more textured material to play the Wicker Husband of a reclusive spinster Fisherwoman (Olivia Colman), who commissioned a Basketmaker (Peter Dinklage) to weave together her fantasy man. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Oct. 2026

In a dream world, reclusive bassist John Deacon would even play a role. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

The movie stars Dakota Johnson as up-and-coming writer Lowen Ashleigh, who’s been tasked with ghostwriting for famous, reclusive author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway). — Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026

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