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

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 The brown recluse is not an aggressive spider and will not immediately bite unless threatened. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 5 July 2026 According to professionals, during an active infestation, the family would typically find 20 to 30 recluses in their traps overnight. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for recluse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recluse

Noun

The area was also chosen by artistic hermit squatters, known as Dunnites, who lived around nearby Oceano and Nipomo in the 1930s.

— Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Tragedy has turned him into a hermit, but the ponderings from his cave are alluring.

— Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 17 May 2026

Definition of hermit

Adjective

Experts say North Korea has often used its rivals’ drills as a pretext to ramp up testing activities to expand its weapons arsenals and promote public support for the reclusive North Korean leader.

— Konstantin Toropin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
His reclusive nature is matched by an almost permanently deadpan expression.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 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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“Recluse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recluse. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of recluse

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

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