adj
C2
Proficient
reclusive
rih-KLOO-sihv
Reclusive (adj) means preferring to live alone, away from other people; withdrawn. Example: “The reclusive billionaire rarely gave interviews.”
adj
1
Preferring to live alone, away from other people; withdrawn.
"The reclusive billionaire rarely gave interviews."
"She grew more reclusive after her husband's death."
How to use reclusive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes someone who avoids company and prefers to be alone.
Common pairings
reclusive lifestyle
notoriously reclusive
reclusive author
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more reclusive
- Superlative
- most reclusive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ billionaire rarely gave interviews.
Etymology
From "recluse" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ive."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for reclusive
See all rhymes for reclusive →Frequently asked questions
What does “reclusive” mean?
The word “reclusive” means preferring to live alone, away from other people; withdrawn. In plain terms, describes someone who avoids company and prefers to be alone.
How do you pronounce “reclusive”?
“Reclusive” is pronounced rih-KLOO-sihv (/ɹɪˈkluːsɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “reclusive” in a sentence?
Here is “reclusive” used in a sentence: “The reclusive billionaire rarely gave interviews.”
What part of speech is “reclusive”?
“Reclusive” is an adjective.
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