as in relapse
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 atavism
Their success depends on a careful combination of atavism and innovation.
—
David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Millet plays with the title and with the idea of atavism, in which an ancient trait asserts itself by skipping forward a few generations to suddenly appear in the gene pool.
—Heather Scott Partington, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Early on, these doctors-cum-criminal-profilers explained bad apples through theories such as atavism.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
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
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
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
Obama crashed against a wall of atavism and paranoia.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 29 Jan. 2022
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
David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Millet plays with the title and with the idea of atavism, in which an ancient trait asserts itself by skipping forward a few generations to suddenly appear in the gene pool.
—Heather Scott Partington, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Early on, these doctors-cum-criminal-profilers explained bad apples through theories such as atavism.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
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
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
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
Obama crashed against a wall of atavism and paranoia.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 29 Jan. 2022
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atavism
Noun
-
An investigational dementia drug may also ease alcohol withdrawal by calming the brain inflammation linked to addiction and relapse.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
-
For the first year after treatment, Lola will return monthly for lab work and monitoring to ensure there are no signs of relapse.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
The Dodgers are also navigating third baseman Max Muncy’s return.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
-
There was pride in defeat by the same scoreline in the return leg at Anfield when big moments went against them, but the gulf in class across the tie was unmistakable.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
For those who are purely rate-motivated, the near-term outlook doesn't offer much relief: the Fed's rate path implies a gradual, modest decline in mortgage rates, not a reversion to pandemic-era levels.—
Jason Kirsch,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
The investor noted that dispersion in semiconductor stocks should force some mean reversion.—
Liz Napolitano,Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Organizations report 40-60% reductions in test maintenance, capacity that redirects into regression coverage that scales with the product.—
Asad Khan,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Underlying metrics suggest there is room for a positive regression, which Burrows must author to feel more comfortable about his position.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Sheriff Gregory Tony wanted to respond to a critical study by the Jensen Hughes consulting firm that found stunning communication lapses between the county’s airport division and the sheriff’s office.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2026
-
Given Meta’s history of privacy lapses and data grabs, there are plenty of reasons not to install WhatsApp.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
What Happens Next Looking ahead, the State Department is clear: further retrogression or even category closures are possible later this fiscal year if demand continues to increase.—
Sam Stevenson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2026
-
This book is all about the fight to stem the tide of retrogression.—
Ken Makin,
Christian Science Monitor,
19 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atavism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavism. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
