GRE vocabulary
atavistic
reverting to an ancestral or primitive type after an absence of generations
In a sentence
Atavistic in a sentence
Here is an example sentence showing atavistic in a sentence.
A strange, atavistic fear gripped him at the sound of distant howling.
Synonyms
ancestralprimitivethrowback
Antonyms
progressivemodernevolved
Keep going
See all More GRE words starting with A
abase
to lower in rank, dignity, or self-respect
abash
to make someone feel embarrassed or ashamed
abate
to lessen in intensity or amount
abdicate
to formally give up power or responsibility
aberrant
departing from what is normal or expected
aberration
a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected
abeyance
a state of temporary suspension or inactivity
abhor
to regard with strong disgust or hatred
Common questions
Questions about “atavistic”
Atavistic (adjective) means reverting to an ancestral or primitive type after an absence of generations
Here is atavistic used in an example sentence: "A strange, atavistic fear gripped him at the sound of distant howling."
Common synonyms for atavistic include ancestral, primitive, throwback.
Antonyms of atavistic include progressive, modern, evolved.
Atavistic is a GRE-level vocabulary word worth knowing for the Verbal section.
Learn words the way the GRE tests them.
Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.