as in hermits
a person who lives away from others
he was sick of cities and crowds, so he decided to go live by himself in the woods as a recluse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 recluses
Brown recluses can survive for months without food or water, making pest elimination ineffective for control.
—
Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
Trapdoor spiders, black widows, recluses.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
Trapdoor spiders, black widows, recluses.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recluses
hermits
Noun
-
It’s known for outlaws, hermits, drugs, hippies, and an aversion to outsiders — like the much ballyhooed Humboldt County across the Californian border but way more under the radar.—
Matt Thompson,
SPIN,
11 May 2026
-
Forest monks, anchorites, and hermits have made similar sacrifices in the name of God.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recluses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recluses. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
