reclusive

adjective

re·​clu·​sive ri-ˈklü-siv How to pronounce reclusive (audio)
-ziv
1
: seeking solitude : retiring from society
a reclusive neighbor
While Stephen King is far from reclusive, he doesn't spend much time promoting his horror-filled novels.Sarah Lyall
2
: marked by seclusion or retirement : solitary
… sit under the reclusive calm of the acacia tree.H. E. Bates
reclusively adverb
reclusiveness noun

Examples of reclusive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The former actor has been mostly reclusive since severing ties with his ex and their seven kids. Rachel McRady, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025 In Myanmar, a reclusive state run by a military government that tightly controls information, there are limited details on the full scale of death and destruction. Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2025 There, the quiet and reclusive SahBabii, blown away by the elaborate set design, swiftness of the costume changes, and expressive acting, began to imagine how theater could work in his own shows. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 28 Mar. 2025 Image His character, John, is a reclusive genius who lives alone, setting crosswords and other brain teasers under the pen name Ludwig. Eleanor Stanford, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reclusive

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of reclusive was in 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Reclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reclusive. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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