as in relapse
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Recent Examples of atavism
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
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
Heather Scott Partington, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atavism
Noun
-
Throughout remission, relapses and undergoing experimental treatments, Peters continued touring and performing.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
The relapse rate for those in recovery is as high as 70 percent.—
Ethan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In return, the College Station university will receive a wide range of deliverables, including advertising on cars and driver apparel, VIP hospitality and social media promotion.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
3 May 2025
-
After an oblique injury in the spring delayed the start of Javier Assad’s season, he was built back up to five innings, and the Cubs had a target date for his return.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
Assets that hover near the middle show mean reversion characteristics.—
Alexander S. Blume,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
But much like the European run in October/November 2024 that followed the Outlaw Festival, this was a reversion to the standard Rough and Rowdy Ways show.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Minnesota newborns will soon be screened for a disease that can lead to delays in developmental milestones, regression of skills, seizures and in some cases death.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2025
-
And that also offsets the likely imminent regression of certainly Polanco and perhaps others toward league average as the season plays out.—
Tony Blengino,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
The Celtics did not have many lapses like that on their march to a title last season.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
-
Many people experience lapses in memory, brain fog, or trouble finding words, Dr. Rosenbloom says.—
Carolyn L. Todd,
SELF,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
Visa retrogression might become more of an issue for Indian and Chinese applicants who invest under the high-unemployment category due to its more limited availability.—
Sam Silverman,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Atavism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavism. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
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