Synonyms of narrow

narrow 1 of 3

adjective

ˈner-(ˌ)ō 

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

• thin
• slender
• skinny
• fine
• slim
• tight
• close
• linear
• needlelike
• paper-thin
• elongate
• spare
• condensed
• ultrathin
• compressed
• constricted
• slim-jim
• tightened
• squeezed
• attenuated
• hairline
• lanky
• contracted
• spindly
• reedy
• stringy
• wispy
• attenuate
• willowy
• rangy
• twiggy
• bottleneck
• lank
• stalky
• shoestring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wide
• broad
• fat
• thick
• stocky
• squat
• stumpy
• massive
• chunky
• thickset
• voluminous
• bulky
• thickish
• widish

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

• small
• parochial
• petty
• little
• insular
• narrow-minded
• provincial
• stubborn
• sectarian
• rigid
• illiberal
• small-minded
• picayune
• limited
• Lilliputian
• partisan
• obstinate
• bigoted
• partial
• wrongheaded
• discriminatory
• biased
• ironbound
• inflexible
• obdurate
• dogmatic
• discriminating
• unyielding
• intolerant
• reactionary
• prejudiced
• opinionated
• hidebound
• jaundiced
• stodgy
• old-fashioned
• one-sided
• unsophisticated
• set
• straitlaced
• stuffy
• opinionative
• brassbound
• hick

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• open
• liberal
• cosmopolitan
• receptive
• tolerant
• objective
• catholic
• impartial
• unbiased
• unprejudiced
• nonpartisan
• broad-minded
• open-minded
• freethinking

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

• limited
• restricted
• finite
• defined
• definite
• specific
• circumscribed
• bounded
• determinate
• measured
• small
• confined
• detailed
• tiny
• qualified
• constricted
• fixed
• moderate
• modified
• modest
• precise
• exact
• puny
• determined
• settled
• minute

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• infinite
• endless
• indefinite
• undefined
• unlimited
• boundless
• limitless
• unbounded
• general
• dimensionless
• immeasurable
• unmeasured
• illimitable
• innumerable
• measureless
• countless
• vague
• unfathomable
• inexhaustible
• bottomless
• large
• incalculable
• unqualified
• nebulous
• indeterminate
• inestimable
• enlarged
• vast
• unreserved
• extensive
• considerable
• broad
• substantial
• expanded
• big
• great
• plentiful
• sizable
• major
• voluminous
• copious
• bulky
• super
• handsome
• whole
• respectable
• goodly
• expansive
• oversize
• hefty
• sweeping
• comprehensive
• ample
• jumbo
• grandiose
• universal
• epic
• inclusive
• global
• bumper
• cosmopolitan
• largish
• escalated
• plenitudinous
• hulking
• overscale
• king-size
• whacking

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

• close
• tight
• crowded
• neck and neck
• hairbreadth
• nip and tuck
• down-to-the-wire

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

• parochial
• provincial
• bigoted
• intolerant
• prejudiced
• narrow-minded
• partial
• partisan
• small-minded
• illiberal
• reactionary
• insular
• hidebound
• blindfolded
• old-fashioned
• biased
• blinkered
• one-sided

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liberal
• extreme
• tolerant
• radical
• progressive
• unprejudiced
• objective
• broad-minded
• open-minded
• impartial
• unbiased

narrow

2 of 3

noun

as in bay

Related Words

• bay
• inlet
• lagoon
• roads
• cove
• estuary
• fjord
• embayment
• bight
• port
• anchorage
• harbor
• creek
• roadstead
• arm
• loch
• firth
• lough
• canal
• basin
• gulf
• dock
• strait
• sound
• marina
• haven
• mooring
• harborage
• channel
• home port
• moorage
• seaport
• containerport

narrow

3 of 3

verb

as in to tighten

Related Words

• tighten
• impede
• hinder
• hamper
• obstruct
• block
• restrict
• confine
• constrict
• lessen
• limit
• bar
• squeeze
• contract
• hold down
• pinch
• circumscribe
• number
• repress
• suppress
• cap
• modify
• quell
• qualify

Dissimilar Words

• exceed
• broaden
• widen
• expand
• overreach
• overextend

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of narrow

Adjective

In our solar system, all the planets orbit around the sun in the ecliptic plane, which is a narrow plane aligned with the sun's equator and direction of rotation. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Beyond a few parks and private estates, neighborhoods typically have narrow sidewalks that leave little space for planting. — Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 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

All of these players have featured across pre-season, but Iraola will now begin to narrow down his first-team group by deciding which few of them will stick around. — James Pearce, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026

Over time, information gathered through interviews, search warrants and tips from people connected to the case has helped narrow the focus. — Francie Ebert, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing narrow

• narrow (down)
• narrow escape