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.
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Recent Examples of reclusive
What follows is a zigzag through Parisian streets as Amélie seeks out the wonder of an old metal box that reveals itself behind her apartment wall, with the initial help of her reclusive neighbour, Raymond Dufayel and a newfound commitment to performing good deeds.
—
Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2026
Guigsy is extremely reclusive; the Gallaghers and the rest of the current lineup quite possibly have no interest in participating in any of this.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
Eventually several members of the reclusive community allowed Christine Marie and Katas to begin filming their daily routines and social gatherings for a documentary about life in the town that locals call the Crick.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
For those who prefer a more reclusive reset, therapists bring the experience—from massages to yoga sessions—directly to your villa, effectively turning your living room into a private wellness suite.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reclusive
Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2026
Guigsy is extremely reclusive; the Gallaghers and the rest of the current lineup quite possibly have no interest in participating in any of this.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
Eventually several members of the reclusive community allowed Christine Marie and Katas to begin filming their daily routines and social gatherings for a documentary about life in the town that locals call the Crick.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
For those who prefer a more reclusive reset, therapists bring the experience—from massages to yoga sessions—directly to your villa, effectively turning your living room into a private wellness suite.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reclusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reclusive
Adjective
-
Sprinkle with the reserved hazelnuts and the parsley, and drizzle with the pul biber oil.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
16 May 2026
-
The audiences there were more reserved and showed their appreciation at the end.—
Zama Magudulela,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The end product is usually tough, dry, and stringy.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
-
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is set and dry but not browned, then let cool for 5 minutes.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
This is one reason why a partner of someone with avoidant attachment may perceive their partner as emotionally unavailable, overly self-sufficient, detached or distant or resistant to commitment.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
-
The price gap Condos generally cost less than detached homes, which is why first-time buyers often start there.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s the youngest, most freewheeling son’s habit of swilling cold coffee while watching The Gong Show.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Historically, extremely cold temperatures, near absolute zero, were used to put them in a quiet state, which required bulky and expensive systems.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
The hotel is on a block next to a major road, but the noise is more of a distant city hum than a nuisance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
The forces shaping our lives can often feel distant, abstract, and impossible to grasp — but through adventure, investigation, and deeply human storytelling, The Human Element inspires a sense of hope and connection.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Season 5 of Bridgerton, produced by Shondaland, spotlights the Bridgertons’ introverted middle daughter Francesca (Hannah Dodd).—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
-
Some people describe him as introverted, and others describe him as a man of few words.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
His is a more enlightened era, but Hannes, lonely and withdrawn, doesn’t share his classmates’ interest in campus sit-ins and free love.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Lost was the fact that a grid-connection request is just the start of a multiyear process that involves permitting and legal review and often ends in withdrawn or downsized projects.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Your favorite team probably doesn’t use them much, if at all, because they’re considered extremely difficult and most GMs are timid babies who are afraid of getting yelled at.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
That bill is a direct response to a Supreme Court that handed the executive branch a dangerous blank check and a Congress too timid to push back.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reclusive. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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