cliquish

Definition of cliquishnext
as in clannish
bound together by feelings of very close association the cliquish White House press corps soon let him know that he was not on the A-list

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 cliquish Whitehead wanted to write, but workshops rejected him and the cliquish undergraduate literary scene put him off. Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliquish
Adjective
  • The Machine was lambasted, fairly, for its clannish coördination and its efforts to keep Democratic politics in a certain mainstream style.
    Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • In the Middle Ages, local churchgoers whispered of clannish Jews poisoning wells to kill Christian children and steal their blood for their rituals.
    Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Prior to the game, both players said Sutter Health Park had lived up to its reputation as a hitter-friendly ballpark.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
  • Alarmed by an avalanche of high-density development projects prompted by a developer-friendly state law, Miami commissioners have ordered the city attorney to look into challenging the controversial legislation.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • The middle daughter of the family has always felt outside of its cliquey confines, what with Lizzy and Jane forming such a pair and Kitty and Lydia (Molly Wright and Grace Hogg-Robinson) practically sharing a brain.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
  • The Friends set was notorious for being cliquey and insular.
    Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike scenic destinations that become part of a wedding backdrop, Walshe said Madison Square Garden presents the opposite challenge because designers would first have to erase the venue's familiar arena feel before creating something entirely new.
    Lauryn Overhultz , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • From there, Florida's history followed the path more familiar to Americans, eventually becoming the 27th state in 1845.
    Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • In fact, the Inter Miami FC star's entire family is close-knit and involved in his athletic career.
    Adam England, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
  • The entire team is in shock, and the community is close-knit.
    Deanna Marie Lowe, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • With the wrap in front of you, fold up the edge closest to you.
    Gretchen McKay, Boston Herald, 24 June 2026
  • Because wells in the region are large and close to one another, restarting production will require significant coordination across companies and countries to ensure consistent pressure across multiple wells.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cliquish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliquish. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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