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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The story follows a reclusive ex-cop who, after a mass shooting at a police funeral, must interrogate his fellow militia members in a secluded warehouse to uncover which of them is the killer, before the outside world closes in. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 May 2025 China props up the isolated nation's economy to prevent a refugee crisis and because the reclusive country serves as a buffer between China and U.S. ally South Korea, home to tens of thousands of American troops. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025 In order to spot Neptune, stargazers will need to get their hands on a good pair of binoculars or a telescope, which will reveal the reclusive world as a blueish point of light. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 7 May 2025 Monica Vitti stars as the reclusive queen of an anonymous European country in the mid-19th century who has been mourning the assassination of her regal husband 10 years prior. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 May 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 4 Jun. 2025.

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