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
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After taking down a conniving businessman and reuniting with his brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal), the reclusive CPA absconds from Illinois and sets out on the open road. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025 Though reclusive, Hackman and Arakawa were often seen out and about in Santa Fe. Christina Dugan Ramirez, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025 Idle fascination blooms into intense connection when aspiring magazine editor Syd (Radha Mitchell) discovers her upstairs neighbor is Lucy Berliner (Ally Sheedy), a renowned yet reclusive photographer. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025 The film follows Hal (Theo James) a reclusive stress case who desperately tries to reconnect with his teenage son while haunted by a wind-up monkey that incites a random (and ridiculous) death whenever the key in its back is turned. Jack Dunn, Variety, 4 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 13 Mar. 2025.

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