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.

She craved a more personally expressive mode of performance—an “experience that was deeper in my body,” she said, that engaged with “the atavistic depth of words.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

“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

An atavistic society ritual, a debutante’s ball for the M.F.A. debtset?

From New York Times • Mar. 13, 2024

Sorry you couldn’t experience this atavistic joy of cooking, Jackie.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 16, 2023

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