Atavism

Synonyms of atavism

• throwback
• reversion
• throwback trait

Antonyms of atavism

• progress
• evolution
• modernization

Collocations of atavism

biological throwback

Frequency: 70 %

The presence of gills in the human embryo is considered a biological throwback.

primitive trait

Frequency: 65 %

The ability to climb trees is a primitive trait that some humans still possess.

ancestral characteristic

Frequency: 60 %

The shape of his jawline was an ancestral characteristic passed down through generations.

genetic throwback

Frequency: 50 %

The appearance of a tail in some humans can be attributed to a genetic throwback.

evolutionary regression

Frequency: 45 %

The development of wings in flightless birds is seen as an evolutionary regression.

Idiomatic Expressions for atavism

• Phrase: Atavism of violence
  Meaning: Describes a tendency or predisposition towards violent behavior that is believed to be inherited from distant ancestors.
  Usage: The psychologist studied the atavism of violence in the criminal's family history to understand his aggressive tendencies.