as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
a recessive genius who was most comfortable working alone in his chemistry lab
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Recent Examples of recessive
White tigers are the result of inbreeding to preserve a rare recessive gene.
—
Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
As leaders go, Dynevor (Bridgerton) is recessive and inscrutable, at least in the family get-togethers that form the narrative.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Further examinations revealed that the golden retriever TNNI3 mutation is autosomal recessive.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
Could the pigmentation be the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation affecting pigment-producing cells, or might it be inherited through a recessive trait that only rarely appears?
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recessive
Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
As leaders go, Dynevor (Bridgerton) is recessive and inscrutable, at least in the family get-togethers that form the narrative.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Further examinations revealed that the golden retriever TNNI3 mutation is autosomal recessive.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
Could the pigmentation be the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation affecting pigment-producing cells, or might it be inherited through a recessive trait that only rarely appears?
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recessive
Adjective
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The typically quiet, withdrawn student seemed more engaged in his first-period class than usual, English teacher Sarah Murer told investigators.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
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The withdrawn draft focused on setting up several new watchdogs to keep AI in check, including a dedicated commission and a special insurance fund to help people if the new technology caused harm.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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For reference, Palisades fire survivors expect to pay around $800 per square foot to rebuild, while Eaton fire survivors expect to pay just shy of $600.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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Completing the triptych is the story of yet another student in 1972, the shy Hannes (Enzo Brumm), who hopes to study poetry but is soon taken with the lovely Gundula (Marlene Burow), who is researching the neural responses of the geranium on her windowsill.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Based on the Frederick Forsyth novel and the 1973 film adaptation from Universal, The Day of the Jackal follows an unrivaled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal (Redmayne), who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
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Detroit left the bases loaded in the fifth inning before later scoring its lone run in the eighth.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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The main character is an introverted English teacher named Richard Garay, who lives a very quiet and small life, in the shadow of his widowed mother.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
6 May 2026
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Such could also be said of May Heinecke for her nuanced portrayal of the most introverted sister, Beth, and Audrey Parker as the explosively ebullient youngest, Amy.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recessive. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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