as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
a recessive genius who was most comfortable working alone in his chemistry lab
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Recent Examples of recessive
Throughout the thread, dog owners shared their own pets’ surprising DNA results, with some commenting that pit bulls are known to have a wire-haired recessive gene, which may explain Cappy's coat.
—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
His presence is so recessive that the resulting footage, however cannily composed, looks, for the most part, like it was made by an unattended surveillance camera.
—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
White tigers are the result of inbreeding to preserve a rare recessive gene.
—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
As leaders go, Dynevor (Bridgerton) is recessive and inscrutable, at least in the family get-togethers that form the narrative.
—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recessive
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
His presence is so recessive that the resulting footage, however cannily composed, looks, for the most part, like it was made by an unattended surveillance camera.
—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
White tigers are the result of inbreeding to preserve a rare recessive gene.
—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
As leaders go, Dynevor (Bridgerton) is recessive and inscrutable, at least in the family get-togethers that form the narrative.
—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recessive
Adjective
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Such movement was not mirrored on the Netherlands’ right, where the attack-minded Denzel Dumfries was playing a more withdrawn role.
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Without daily contact with peers, some children become more withdrawn, lonely or emotionally flat.
Adjective
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Now, Perez sits just five homers shy of breaking Brett’s all-time franchise mark for home runs as a Royal.
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Farrell, who also narrates in a soft voice, often wears a look of shy incomprehension, as if a beat behind in translating the world around him, a stranger in a strange land.
Adjective
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That could lead to Arraez making it in as a reserve, or the Giants’ lone selection or selections being a pitcher or pitchers.
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The sun was blinding, my lone witness.
Adjective
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According to studio information sent to ABC News, Chalamet will play Joe, an introverted rocket mechanic.
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For Season 2, Episode 2, Gaby became focused on the introverted Maya (Sherry Cola).
Cite this Entry
“Recessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recessive. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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