recluse

6 synonyms and 3 antonyms for recluse, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Living apart from others; withdrawn from society.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

withdrawn solitary

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

reclusive solitudinarian troglodyte hermit

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Living apart from others; withdrawn from society.

“The author lived a recluse life in a remote cabin.”

withdrawn reclusive

Opposites

social convivial companionable

2. noun

A person who deliberately avoids other people and lives in isolation.

“After the scandal, he became a recluse, refusing all interviews.”

solitary solitudinarian troglodyte hermit

How to use recluse

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a notorious recluse live as a recluse become a recluse

Etymology

From Old French reclus, from Latin recludere, which oddly originally meant "to open" — the sense flipped over time to mean someone shut away from the world.

Full origin of recluse →

Frequently asked questions

What does “recluse” mean?

The word “recluse” means living apart from others; withdrawn from society. In plain terms, someone who withdraws from social life and lives alone, avoiding others.

How do you pronounce “recluse”?

“Recluse” is pronounced rih-KLOOS (/ɹɪˈkluːs/ in IPA).

How do you use “recluse” in a sentence?

Here is “recluse” used in a sentence: “The author lived a recluse life in a remote cabin.”

What is another word for “recluse”?

Words with a similar meaning to “recluse” include reclusive.

What part of speech is “recluse”?

Depending on how it is used, “recluse” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “recluse” come from?

The word “recluse” comes from Latin. From Old French reclus, from Latin recludere, which oddly originally meant "to open" — the sense flipped over time to mean someone shut away from the world.

How many meanings does “recluse” have?

“Recluse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: living apart from others; withdrawn from society.

People also searched

social withdrawn solitary hermit convivial companionable solitudinarian reclusive troglodyte

Nearby words

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