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

Not necessarily reclusive perhaps, but just private, as much of us are. —Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025

Tributes have continued to pour in on social media from peers of the reclusive R&B visionary, including comments from Tyler, the Creator, Jill Scott, E-40, Royce Da 5’9 and Timbaland. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025

The story follows a reclusive man who lives in a remote house by the sea. —Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025

While ferrying Camila from playdates to pet psychics, Issa realizes the dog’s bark is worse than her bite—much like Camila’s attractive, yet reclusive owner, Theo (Famous in Love’s Carter Jenkins). —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 30 Sep. 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