cliquish

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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliquish
Adjective
  • Jews, because human beings are and always will be clannish.
    David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
  • This sort of soft, clannish corruption is not a coat of paint that can be stripped from the protectionist architecture; the dysfunction infests the very foundations of it.
    David B. McGarry, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The free, family-friendly event includes a chance to meet local firefighters, watch live demonstrations, tour the station and get fire safety tips.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
  • And Benjamin heads to a friendly pub to get drunk.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Friends set was notorious for being cliquey and insular.
    Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The America, once a familiar sight in San Diego, will soon undergo $200 million in maintenance and upgrades at General Dynamics-NASSCO in Barrio Logan.
    Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Kimmel then built toward a familiar pop culture comparison.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Their neighborhood and school make up a small and close-knit community where people know each other.
    Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
  • His response was an indication that Mahomes and Jones are close-knit.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Trump has previously suggested a deal was close.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The trainer visits Pegasus daily and is like the horse’s shadow during hospital visits, keeping a close eye to ensure the safety of Pegasus and those around him.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Cliquish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliquish. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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