Retreatists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. People who intentionally step back from challenging environments or decisions for various motivations
2. Individuals who actively choose to distance themselves from confrontations or societal expectations in different scenarios
3. Persons who pull back from normal social roles or customs to escape pressures or responsibilities

Etymology: The plural of "retreatist," a person who withdraws from ordinary social roles and expectations. The singular "retreatist" is formed from "retreat" (ultimately from Latin "retractus," "drawn back") plus the suffix "-ist," meaning one who follows or practises something. The sociologist Robert K. Merton gave this sense its technical meaning in his 1938 article "Social Structure and Anomie," where he listed retreatism as one of five ways people respond when cultural goals and the means to reach them come apart. Merton's use is the origin of the term's current sense.

Synonyms: withdrawers, recluses, isolationists, separatists, escapers

Antonyms: confrontationalists, engagers, participants, interveners, combatants