1
as in thin
being of less than usual width
found a narrow opening in the fence that he was able to squeeze through
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in small
not broad or open in views or opinions
a narrow person who thought that anyone who even owned a television had been morally corrupted by society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in limited
having distinct or certain limits
a play about human suffering, but in a narrower sense, also about the modern struggles of the working-class poor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in close
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors
a narrow gubernatorial contest, the outcome of which may depend upon a handful of votes
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in parochial
unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints
tried to convince the narrow members of her family that there are many paths to a successful career that don't involve getting a university degree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of narrow
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 19 June 2026
But the window for such a shift is very narrow.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026
James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Dutch parliamentary election tests ruling far-right party Dutch voters cast ballots today in a parliamentary election in which a far-right party that led opinion polls for months has seen its advantage narrow into a three-horse race.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Dua Hassan, STAT, 15 June 2026
In essence, the research could narrow down the search for a fifth fundamental force.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for narrow
Adjective
This can be visualized as a kind of barcode, with some narrow stripes and some thicker continuous stripes following one another.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 19 June 2026
But the window for such a shift is very narrow.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026
Noun
Many famed surf spots to the south — like Doheny, San Clemente and San Onofre — also have seen the beach narrow precipitously.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Dutch parliamentary election tests ruling far-right party Dutch voters cast ballots today in a parliamentary election in which a far-right party that led opinion polls for months has seen its advantage narrow into a three-horse race.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
The show narrowed the school-readiness gap for low-income children in ways that decades of policy had failed to do.
—Dua Hassan, STAT, 15 June 2026
In essence, the research could narrow down the search for a fifth fundamental force.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for narrow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrow
Adjective
-
Specifically saying these white, thin, traditionally feminine bodies are not just aspirational but symbols of morality, tradition, purity.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
-
This game isn't in Las Vegas, this is in Sacramento, so the thin air that carried the ball out of the park the past few days is not a factor.—
David Troy OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
After selling baklava at the Stock Show, the Unlus rented their first resraurant space in a small Eighth Avenue food hall.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
-
The Virgo moon asks you to focus on the small tasks.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
Super Bowl veteran Matthew Stafford, on the verge of his 18th season, will get limited snaps in the offseason, leaving Bennett and Simpson to take additional first-team snaps.—
Mike Griffith,
AJC.com,
21 June 2026
-
While the numbers of comedies on the ballot stayed almost level with last year (up very slightly to 71 from 69), dramas dropped from 126 in 2025 to 110 this year, and limited/anthology series are down to 31, from 44 last year.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
There wasn’t much excitement in the building, despite the fact that the game was close until the end.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
He's remained close with the Solari family and has taken Teo Solari under his wing.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
In the most parochial place that ever was or ever will be, authenticity functions as a means of psychic gatekeeping, and someone who doesn’t speak the lingua Francona isn’t someone who’s worth listening to when the game’s on.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
12 June 2026
-
Of course, the ever-parochial instincts of Chicago, where neighborhood loyalties rule and aldermen are fiercely protective of their ward domains, means the decision on the location of any future Leo landmark could be contentious.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
All six whales tagged in Hallaniyat Bay moved between the bay, Gulf of Masirah, and northern Yemen.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
19 June 2026
-
With two minutes to play in stoppage time, Mexico easily cleared a corner kick from South Korea to keep the Red Devils at bay.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Varsho tightened the score an inning later with his home run off Trent Thornton.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
-
The European Central Bank was the first major central bank to raise interest rates last week, its first tightening move in nearly three years.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Eschewing fences and pavement in favor of natural footpaths lined with brambles and shrubs, these slender pathways provide epic sea views while leaving the ancestral homes of other animals intact.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Credit is due to Spike Lee, who always shows up, and has since Patrick Ewing was a slender rookie and the world was young.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Narrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrow. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
