as in relapse
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Recent Examples of atavism
Western elites believed that in the twenty-first century, cosmopolitanism and globalism would triumph over atavism and tribal loyalties.
—
Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2017
This sumptuous piece of theatrical atavism bore little resemblance to the actual events of Mozart’s life, but most nonpurist musicians happily accepted the melodramatization; quite apart from the thespian pyrotechnics, the sophisticated choice of music was a revelation.
—Simon Callow, The New York Review of Books, 22 Dec. 2022
Is my interest in the moon some dormant atavism from a more primitive era of human life?
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022
Early on, these doctors-cum-criminal-profilers explained bad apples through theories such as atavism.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
If learning and gentility are signs of civilization, perhaps our almost-big brains are straining against their residual atavism, struggling to expand.
—Richard Granger, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2022
Obama crashed against a wall of atavism and paranoia.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 29 Jan. 2022
This gives his career an arc of atavism and abnegating tragedy, a willful artist hopelessly at the mercy of his obsessions.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2021
This was the heyday of Cesare Lombroso’s racist theories about recognizable criminal types and Max Nordau’s study Degeneration, which spread fear of atavism and perversion.
—Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 28 May 2020
Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2017
This sumptuous piece of theatrical atavism bore little resemblance to the actual events of Mozart’s life, but most nonpurist musicians happily accepted the melodramatization; quite apart from the thespian pyrotechnics, the sophisticated choice of music was a revelation.
—Simon Callow, The New York Review of Books, 22 Dec. 2022
Is my interest in the moon some dormant atavism from a more primitive era of human life?
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022
Early on, these doctors-cum-criminal-profilers explained bad apples through theories such as atavism.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
If learning and gentility are signs of civilization, perhaps our almost-big brains are straining against their residual atavism, struggling to expand.
—Richard Granger, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2022
Obama crashed against a wall of atavism and paranoia.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 29 Jan. 2022
This gives his career an arc of atavism and abnegating tragedy, a willful artist hopelessly at the mercy of his obsessions.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2021
This was the heyday of Cesare Lombroso’s racist theories about recognizable criminal types and Max Nordau’s study Degeneration, which spread fear of atavism and perversion.
—Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 28 May 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atavism
Noun
-
Peer support staff for people in jail, housing, and transportation assistance to try to reduce relapses.—
Alecia Taylor,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Ensuring transparency and public trust will be essential in preventing a relapse into dictatorship.—
PATRICK VINCK,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Evans was probably the one piece that could bring in a valuable return.—
Arpon Basu,
The Athletic,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Special teams units will aim to allow less than 7 yards per return.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But The automatic foreign copyright reversion issue in this case did not occur until years later, said Marc Toberoff, attorney for the estate, and was never actually litigated.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
31 Jan. 2025
-
One standout opportunity is Oracle (ORCL) , which is currently displaying a compelling mean reversion setup.—
Nishant Pant,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
If nothing else, this third installment demonstrates how progress and regression are cyclical.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
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However, quantifying the neural network in a regression that includes Nvidia stock price is a messy business.—
Korok Ray,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As the White House takes control of the pool roster, the TASS staffer’s presence represents a potential security lapse on the White House’s part.—
Donald Judd and Liam Reilly,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
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The video kicked off with a time lapse of Ripa sitting in a chair as makeup and hairstylists did their work, putting on the Glinda makeup and styling her blonde hair just like the character’s.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Does the Senate really want to put in office a secretary with zero medical training, who believes in raw milk and not in the extraordinary benefits of vaccinations, without asking him about such retrogression?—
Arthur House,
Hartford Courant,
22 Nov. 2024
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In another 5-to-4 decision, Justice O’Connor wrote an opinion that would significantly alter the initial retrogression standard established in Beer v. United States.—
Nick Corasaniti,
New York Times,
21 Nov. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Atavism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavism. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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