RECLUSE Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

recluse 1 of 2

noun

Definition of recluse

as in hermit

a person who lives away from others he was sick of cities and crowds, so he decided to go live by himself in the woods as a recluse

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

recluse

2 of 2

adjective

as in reclusive

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of recluse

Noun

For the last six years, Six has lived as a recluse in Amsterdam, lying in bed and going out twice a day for decaf coffee (the regular brew is too hard on his shattered nerves). — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026 Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, previously known as Prince Andrew, has become a recluse since he was arrested on his 66th birthday back in February. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 10 Aug. 2026 Not surprisingly, playing a Mormon missionary, even one being psychologically tortured by a creepy English recluse, was not a huge stretch for Thatcher. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026 Guardians players struggle to understand how Clase, a bit of a recluse, kept it cool. — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for recluse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recluse

Noun

In The Death of Robin Hood, Hugh Jackman plays the bandit of Nottingham, aged and retired to a hermit's life in the wilderness.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
The hermit in me liked to stay home, the little vampire loved to step out.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of hermit

Adjective

In the end, Matt kills everybody who wronged him (plus several innocent people), and is forced to live as a reclusive mud monster in the sewers.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026
But that doesn’t explain the sudden distance between them, or why the reclusive Irma made the uncharacteristic decision to go to the big parties that open Westish’s school year without telling Pella.

— B. D. McClay, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of reclusive

Adjective

Hospitality fared well in Deputy’s study, making up half of the 10 happiest job sectors, despite the sector’s reputation for high stress, unsociable hours, and low pay.

— Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2025
To drink too much would be inexcusable; to drink too little would be unsociable.

— Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024

Definition of unsociable

Browse Nearby Words

reclining

recluse

recluses

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Style

“Recluse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recluse. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of recluse

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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