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Reclusive (adj) means preferring to live alone, away from other people; withdrawn.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

Preferring to live alone, away from other people; withdrawn.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 notes

In plain EnglishDescribes someone who avoids company and prefers to be alone.

Common pairings

reclusive lifestyle notoriously reclusive reclusive author

Word forms

more reclusive comparative, most reclusive superlative

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The _____ billionaire rarely gave interviews.

Etymology

From "recluse" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ive."

Rhymes for reclusive

five give dive live olive drive alive strive derive active arrive native

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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The word “reclusive” means preferring to live alone, away from other people; withdrawn.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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