Hercules failed, missing first one avoiding others (7)
I believe the answer is:
recluse
'one avoiding others' is the definition.
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for recluse that I've seen before include "Eremite" , "One who lives alone avoiding people" , "One has withdrawn from society" , "One preferring solitude" , "A loner, one who keeps to himself" .)