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
-
Since then, the 20-year-old’s appearances have been managed by new boss Flick to ensure that his return did not put him at risk of a possible relapse.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Monitor Early Warning Signs of Burnout Burnout relapse doesn’t happen overnight.—
Amanda Miller Littlejohn,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The Emmy-winning comedy series Hacks — which stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder — returns for season four.—
Rudie Obias,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Local permitting departments, overwhelmed by the demand, are struggling to keep up—delaying the return of many residents.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The Iranians will no doubt continue to improve their missiles’ accuracy and performance, but today the missile program is perhaps less of a threat than Iran’s regional meddling or the reversion of its nuclear program back to the pre-JCPOA status quo.—
Richard Nephew,
Foreign Affairs,
3 Nov. 2017
-
However, the stock is now beginning to show signs of mean reversion, suggesting a potential rebound may be underway.—
Nishant Pant,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
This can show up as guilt-tripping, the silent treatment, love-bombing, gaslighting, coercion, criticizing, isolation, helplessness, and regression.—
Christina Pérez,
Vogue,
12 Apr. 2025
-
But Wong has shown significant regression at the plate in the early going, with just one base hit and a pair of walks to go with six strikeouts in his first 21 plate appearances.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
If the stock rises to $150 by the time restrictions lapse and the individual sells at $200, the $100 gain ($200 - $100) is capital gain.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.D.,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
-
For elite status programs, memberships lapse after specific periods; thereafter, cardholders must requalify via normal routes.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 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 21 Apr. 2025.
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