as in reserved
inclined or tending to avoid other people
The reclusive woman was more than happy to spend her day off reading and writing at home.
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 reclusive
Not necessarily reclusive perhaps, but just private, as much of us are.
—
Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Tributes have continued to pour in on social media from peers of the reclusive R&B visionary, including comments from Tyler, the Creator, Jill Scott, E-40, Royce Da 5’9 and Timbaland.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
The story follows a reclusive man who lives in a remote house by the sea.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Thake took a long and winding trip down the memories of South Yorkshire football, a path which eventually led him to the living room of a shy, almost reclusive Rotherham man called Terry Moran.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reclusive
Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Tributes have continued to pour in on social media from peers of the reclusive R&B visionary, including comments from Tyler, the Creator, Jill Scott, E-40, Royce Da 5’9 and Timbaland.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
The story follows a reclusive man who lives in a remote house by the sea.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Thake took a long and winding trip down the memories of South Yorkshire football, a path which eventually led him to the living room of a shy, almost reclusive Rotherham man called Terry Moran.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reclusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reclusive
Adjective
-
Understandably excited, Quayle couldn’t resist a playful shoulder punch to the older, reserved Bush, who smiled awkwardly.—
Time,
Time,
3 Nov. 2025
-
There are general admission, reserved tickets and box seating viewing areas.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Being buried in dry science explainers is part of what makes those concepts—nonlocality, entanglement, black hole gravity—difficult to understand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The best months are usually July and August, when the water warms enough for dry-fly-fishing but the cutthroat are still hungry after the long, cold spring.—
Outside,
Outside,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Martell said the tone wasn’t hostile, just detached.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The detached house was built in 2013 and has a living area of 3,186 square feet.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Kimberly-Clark has been attempting to challenge the dominance of consumer goliath Procter & Gamble, whose business spans all drugstore aisles, including cold and digestion medicines.—
NPR,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Insulate With Mulch No matter the zone, crepe myrtles can benefit from additional mulch that locks in moisture and insulates the roots in cold weather.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In another imaging campaign, API, assisted by AMIGO, was able to produce detailed images of a black hole jet, the volcanic surface of Jupiter's moon Io, and stellar winds emanating from a distant variable star.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Although the technology to use helium-3 remains distant, its potential value continues to drive long-term interest in lunar and asteroid resource development.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
McCusker is one of those comics who, paradoxically, can rip through a room with his stand-up while in everyday life being somewhat anxious and introverted.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The original book, first published in November 2015, chronicled Rhimes’ journey from introverted showrunner to a woman fully stepping into her power.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Set in Taiwan in 1988, Girl revolves around Hsiao-lee, a quiet and withdrawn girl, growing up in silent gloom.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Unfortunately, further discussions were heated, with no resolve, just more withdrawn behavior while the communications continued.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
Somewhat soft-spoken, Riccoboni is hardly timid in his art.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Not as impressive is its thin and timid use of Star Wars' unique setting.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reclusive. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share