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
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
That suspect is the reclusive polymath Nick Szabo who ticks all of the same boxes as Back and whose initials are conveniently the inverse of Satoshi Nakamoto.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
That especially plays out with the entrance of the reclusive and insanely wealthy Carl Bardolph (Zach Galifianakis), the one responsible for making a mint off of spam.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
In the film, Coel is a reclusive painter who’s hired by the children of a famous artist to pose as his assistant and gain access to a series of fabled canvases to secure their inheritance.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reclusive
Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
That suspect is the reclusive polymath Nick Szabo who ticks all of the same boxes as Back and whose initials are conveniently the inverse of Satoshi Nakamoto.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
That especially plays out with the entrance of the reclusive and insanely wealthy Carl Bardolph (Zach Galifianakis), the one responsible for making a mint off of spam.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
In the film, Coel is a reclusive painter who’s hired by the children of a famous artist to pose as his assistant and gain access to a series of fabled canvases to secure their inheritance.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reclusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reclusive
Adjective
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The way the actress moves through space physically gives even the most frenetic sequences an athletic, almost ethereal sense of direction, and Tung’s reserved ferocity doesn’t so much add to the spectacle as justify it.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
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Shayla was more reserved, often scrolling quietly on her phone.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Browns, which are usually but not always brown, include spent perennials, dry leaves, cut-up (undyed) leather, twigs, paper and straw.—
Jessica Damiano,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Much of Culebra is now protected under the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, which preserves mangroves, dry forest, and charming coastal habitats used by seabirds and marine life.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The property also features a detached, two-story guest house with two independent living spaces.—
Rodney Ho,
AJC.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Despite your desire to remain detached, relationships become impossible to ignore today, Aquarius.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations and breaking news for USA TODAY.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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In Milan, Pietrantoni had just worked with a design studio on an installation with cold lighting, which was drawing interested crowds.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
What appears as a deep view of distant galaxies is a little richer upon close inspection.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Malloy’s philosophy challenges norms that position clinicians as distant figures.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Such could also be said of May Heinecke for her nuanced portrayal of the most introverted sister, Beth, and Audrey Parker as the explosively ebullient youngest, Amy.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
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Others have pushed back that Alito is introverted and shyer than his colleagues and may have no problem skipping an extensive book tour.—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
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Along the way, Babilonia matured from the shy withdrawn child who refused to hold a boy’s hand into a bold, strong and confident woman.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And also the anticipatory obedience by a lot of these news organizations who are more timid.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
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The film follows Colin (Harry Melling), a timid man who is swept off of his feet by Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), an impossibly handsome biker, who takes him on as his submissive.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reclusive. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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