recluse 1 of 2

as in hermit
a person who lives away from others he was sick of cities and crowds, so he decided to go live by himself in the woods as a recluse

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

recluse

2 of 2

adjective

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 recluse
Noun
The other is a recluse who lives elsewhere and publishes word and number puzzles under the pen name Ludwig. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025 There’s something about the rap-pop recluse Yabujin’s music that captures this malfunctioning, ersatz charm like nothing else. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2025 Kaczynski was an anti-technology recluse who killed three people with mail bombs from 1978 to 1995. NBC News, 10 Dec. 2024 He is characterized in the media as a recluse, who likes to bike, and doesn’t smoke, drink, watch TV or listen to the radio. Lex Harvey, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for recluse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recluse
Noun
  • Or take another boat (there is not a boat that goes to both islands on a round trip) to the smaller island of Saint-Honorat, to an abbey founded by a hermit in 410CE, when monks owned most of Cannes.
    Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Fast forward to 1993, and Mike has been living as a hermit on an island in the Faroes archipelago for 15 years, supported by classical pianist and friend Daniel.
    Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • China props up the isolated nation's economy to prevent a refugee crisis and because the reclusive country serves as a buffer between China and U.S. ally South Korea, home to tens of thousands of American troops.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
  • In order to spot Neptune, stargazers will need to get their hands on a good pair of binoculars or a telescope, which will reveal the reclusive world as a blueish point of light.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • Ask Amy: My unsociable neighbor doesn't know about me and his wife.
    Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 2 June 2024
  • To drink too much would be inexcusable; to drink too little would be unsociable.
    Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Recluse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recluse. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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