as in relapse
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of atavism
Millet plays with the title and with the idea of atavism, in which an ancient trait asserts itself by skipping forward a few generations to suddenly appear in the gene pool.
—
Heather Scott Partington, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Early on, these doctors-cum-criminal-profilers explained bad apples through theories such as atavism.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
This sumptuous piece of theatrical atavism bore little resemblance to the actual events of Mozart’s life, but most nonpurist musicians happily accepted the melodramatization; quite apart from the thespian pyrotechnics, the sophisticated choice of music was a revelation.
—Simon Callow, The New York Review of Books, 22 Dec. 2022
If learning and gentility are signs of civilization, perhaps our almost-big brains are straining against their residual atavism, struggling to expand.
—Richard Granger, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2022
Is my interest in the moon some dormant atavism from a more primitive era of human life?
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022
Obama crashed against a wall of atavism and paranoia.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 29 Jan. 2022
This gives his career an arc of atavism and abnegating tragedy, a willful artist hopelessly at the mercy of his obsessions.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2021
Western elites believed that in the twenty-first century, cosmopolitanism and globalism would triumph over atavism and tribal loyalties.
—Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2017
Heather Scott Partington, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Early on, these doctors-cum-criminal-profilers explained bad apples through theories such as atavism.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
This sumptuous piece of theatrical atavism bore little resemblance to the actual events of Mozart’s life, but most nonpurist musicians happily accepted the melodramatization; quite apart from the thespian pyrotechnics, the sophisticated choice of music was a revelation.
—Simon Callow, The New York Review of Books, 22 Dec. 2022
If learning and gentility are signs of civilization, perhaps our almost-big brains are straining against their residual atavism, struggling to expand.
—Richard Granger, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2022
Is my interest in the moon some dormant atavism from a more primitive era of human life?
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022
Obama crashed against a wall of atavism and paranoia.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 29 Jan. 2022
This gives his career an arc of atavism and abnegating tragedy, a willful artist hopelessly at the mercy of his obsessions.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2021
Western elites believed that in the twenty-first century, cosmopolitanism and globalism would triumph over atavism and tribal loyalties.
—Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atavism
Noun
-
Throughout college, Reid’s medications provided fleeting relief, followed by relapses that left her bedridden at home.—
Jason Liebowitz,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Whether craving returns when people stop taking them — and whether that return triggers relapse — is unknown.—
Ziyad Al-Aly,
STAT,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This latter point is crucial as 10% of returns made by bookmakers from horse racing bets are returned to the sport via a government levy.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The comedian’s return was announced less than a month after the 2025 Oscars.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His lack of playing time and impact at recent stops in Golden State, Miami and Utah will lead many to assume a reversion to past Wolves form isn’t in the cards.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Much of that decline is a reversion to more typical prices following a supply shock triggered by a historic outbreak of bird flu, according to economists.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The team’s kicking situation was a disaster last season, including a regression from Gillan.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Easy profit at cost, even with some natural regression.—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The original contract, which is set to lapse at the end of the month, was for about $90 million.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The funding lapse has required most DHS employees to continue working without pay, while others are furloughed.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This book is all about the fight to stem the tide of retrogression.—
Ken Makin,
Christian Science Monitor,
19 Nov. 2025
-
Visa retrogression might become more of an issue for Indian and Chinese applicants who invest under the high-unemployment category due to its more limited availability.—
Sam Silverman,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atavism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavism. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
