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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
The film’s plot follows a reclusive schizophrenic, raised in an oppressive religious sect, who must clear his name when he’s framed by cult leaders for a series of ritualistic murders.
—
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 1 May 2025
Enormous paydays for reunions tours have managed to bring even the most reclusive people out of their homes.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2025
Set in a fictional, secluded land of mountains and lakes, Ochi follows a plucky teen named Yuri (played by Helena Zengel), who’s been raised by her father to fear and hunt the reclusive little beasties called ochi.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2025
In the film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and earned a six-minute standing ovation, Fraser plays a reclusive writing professor, Charlie, attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter.
—Diana Pearl, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reclusive
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 1 May 2025
Enormous paydays for reunions tours have managed to bring even the most reclusive people out of their homes.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2025
Set in a fictional, secluded land of mountains and lakes, Ochi follows a plucky teen named Yuri (played by Helena Zengel), who’s been raised by her father to fear and hunt the reclusive little beasties called ochi.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2025
In the film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and earned a six-minute standing ovation, Fraser plays a reclusive writing professor, Charlie, attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter.
—Diana Pearl, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reclusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reclusive
Adjective
-
Economists and geopolitical experts, however, are more reserved in their appraisal of the agreement.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
-
Drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of the reserved marinade and toss to coat.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This higher elevation, combined with low to moderate levels of rainfall, temperature, and dry weather, all come together to form a pretty ideal environment for growing wine grapes.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2025
-
While much of Sunday will remain dry, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop from 2-6 p.m., mainly across eastern Kansas before pushing into western Missouri.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
The sale of the detached house in the 2300 block of Fruitdale Ave., San Jose, has been finalized.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
-
Through it all, there’s the metronomic wash of the tides onto the sand, waves lapping the beach, the undulation of the ocean, and the cityscape of Rockaway, with its large apartment buildings and detached houses, in the background.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
Distributors — dear friends and colleagues — lament the same familiar woes: not enough films, or too many; the best titles are overpriced; the coffee is terrible; the weather is unbearable — too hot, too cold or both.—
Martin Moszkowicz,
Deadline,
17 May 2025
-
Studies show the therapy can support longevity, with cold (like ice baths, cold showers, and facial icing) and warm temperatures (like saunas, steam rooms, and hot baths) proven to slow aging, improve metabolic health, and lower the rate in which our cells die.—
Essence,
Essence,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
That changed with ecclesiastical reforms introduced under Pope Gregory X, who mandated a minimum 10-day waiting period to allow time for prayer and reflection—and for distant cardinals to travel to Rome.—
Barney Henderson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
-
They were supposed to go to distant retrograde orbit — the DRO in the pair's name — around the moon, to help provide navigation and tracking for spacecraft in Earth-moon space.—
Julian Dossett,
Space.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Pixar’s latest original feature follows an introverted 11-year-old alien fanatic who is mistaken for the ambassador of Earth—and gets beamed up to outer space for the adventure of a lifetime.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Time,
16 May 2025
-
Everyone had something to do, even the most introverted.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
Its influence on the withdrawn protagonist, Jamie (played by Owen Cooper), is largely implied.—
Paula Mejía,
The Atlantic,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The withdrawn San Francisco drama, about lonely nonbinary nanny and restaurant server Cass (Asia Kate Dillon), is simple in its presentation, but disguises numerous layers to its story.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Makos athletes also noticed that their parents were timid around water.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 May 2025
-
Haney looked timid and afraid for the first four rounds before finding his legs and winning a unanimous decision in a lackluster fight with Jose Ramirez.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reclusive. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share