atavistic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tribal pull isn’t the brain’s only atavistic trait that struggles with modern life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 13, 2025

“Parade,” which delves into antisemitism, systemic bias in our judicial system and the power of a wily demagogue to stoke atavistic hatred for self-gain, has a disconcerting timeliness.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2025

Yet that does nothing to diminish the totemic power they wield over us, which is an expression of the unquestioned, atavistic nature of belief.

From New York Times • Feb. 16, 2023

But many women called it a put-down, an atavistic reaction to the feminist movement.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 22, 2021

Except in some atavistic part of his brain, he knows exactly what they’ll do.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr