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
-
In the season 7 premiere, it's revealed that Antonio is back in rehab after a relapse.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The first year in remission is the most likely time for a relapse to occur, but the chances grow smaller and smaller as the years go on.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
After all, the average bachelor’s degree delivers a nearly 682% lifetime return on investment, while a professional degree raises that ROI to more than 2,200%.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
-
House Republicans found that the foundation, created by the state in 2023, wasn’t complying with state laws requiring it to disclose its mission, three-year plan, code of ethics, tax returns and other records.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Biden administration completed the reversion to a Cold War frame, declaring a global divide between democracies and autocracies, with China and Russia reprising their roles as principal foes.—
JENNIFER KAVANAGH,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Sep. 2025
-
That prompted the Gusman heirs to reclaim ownership of the property, arguing that a reversion clause in the deed had been triggered when the MPA stepped back from managing the building.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While integrating Woltemade has perhaps exacerbated the diminishment of those returns, the regression also hints at something more fundamental with Newcastle’s attacking set-up.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Instead, it’s followed by very rapid regression.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ahead of the latest shutdown deadline, OMB circulated guidance telling agencies to submit workforce reduction strategies, a move unions and legal experts warn is a blueprint for mass layoffs during a funding lapse.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
But this time around, Democrats have united around several demands, including that any short-term funding bill include an extension of enhanced Obamacare tax credits, which are due to lapse at year's end.—
Kevin Breuninger,Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 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 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share