narrow-minded

adjective

nar·​row-mind·​ed ˈner-(ˌ)ō-ˈmīn-dəd How to pronounce narrow-minded (audio)
ˈna-(ˌ)rō-
: not willing to accept opinions, beliefs, behaviors, etc. that are unusual or different from one's own : not open-minded
narrow-mindedly adverb
narrow-mindedness noun

Examples of narrow-minded in a Sentence

it took a while for some of the more narrow-minded members of management to be persuaded to modernize the dress code narrow-minded people who instinctively feared and shunned those from different cultures
Recent Examples on the Web Reducing African artists to only Afrobeats because of their ethnicity is narrow-minded and completely disregards the diversity of the various African musical styles that these musicians represent and explore through their artistry. Giana Levy, refinery29.com, 13 Sep. 2024 And this kind of thinking is just so narrow-minded and patronizing. Shadi Hamid, Washington Post, 25 July 2024 As such, strong rulers keep narrow-minded bureaucrats from leading their country into costly miscalculations. Tyler Jost, Foreign Affairs, 27 Apr. 2023 Despite the ill-conceived and narrow-minded arguments made by those who believe that atonement and rehabilitation are inconsequential, my colleagues and I in the criminal justice system have seen firsthand how that thinking is irrefutably false. Aisha Braveboy, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2024 Sweepingly ridiculed as one of 2012’s worst albums, that judgment, five years later, feels wildly narrow-minded. Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 29 Feb. 2024 Critics have blamed it for upholding a narrow-minded model of relationships as heterosexual and monogamous. Isabella Kwai, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 The results of Netanyahu’s narrow-minded path have led to catastrophe for both Israelis and Palestinians and nearly constant border fire between Israel and Hezbollah. TIME, 11 Jan. 2024 The critical response to the 1993 Biennial was almost shockingly narrow-minded: Many writers were furious that the exhibition included significantly fewer white men than usual. Aruna D’souza, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'narrow-minded.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of narrow-minded was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near narrow-minded

Cite this Entry

“Narrow-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narrow-minded. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

narrow-minded

adjective
nar·​row-mind·​ed
ˌnar-ō-ˈmīn-dəd
narrow-mindedness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on narrow-minded

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