as in relapse
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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
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
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
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
Early on, these doctors-cum-criminal-profilers explained bad apples through theories such as atavism.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
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
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
Heather Scott Partington, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
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
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
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
Early on, these doctors-cum-criminal-profilers explained bad apples through theories such as atavism.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atavism
Noun
-
Some patients experience dramatic relapses, others a slow and steady decline.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
-
Following his first two relapses at HealthRight’s detox facility, he was transferred to a men’s residential treatment building, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.—
Julia Marnin,
Sacbee.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Enthusiastic debates about potential team rankings, standout players, and game strategies start to unfold, stirring excitement among fans eager for the return of the gridiron action.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2025
-
Series regular Tony Todd, who died last fall, returns for a touching posthumous scene that references another fan favorite character.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
The market declines look more like a reversion to the Fed.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2025
-
This post–Cold War project probably prevented an earlier, faster reversion to global rivalry.—
HAL BRANDS,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Minnesota newborns will soon be screened for a disease that can lead to delays in developmental milestones, regression of skills, seizures and in some cases death.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2025
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And that also offsets the likely imminent regression of certainly Polanco and perhaps others toward league average as the season plays out.—
Tony Blengino,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
The Celtics did not have many lapses like that on their march to a title last season.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
-
Many people experience lapses in memory, brain fog, or trouble finding words, Dr. Rosenbloom says.—
Carolyn L. Todd,
SELF,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Does the Senate really want to put in office a secretary with zero medical training, who believes in raw milk and not in the extraordinary benefits of vaccinations, without asking him about such retrogression?—
Arthur House,
Hartford Courant,
22 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Atavism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavism. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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