as in cliquish
bound together by feelings of very close association
a clannish family that can be rather cool to outsiders
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Recent Examples of clannish
The most successful of those managers have carved out a niche catering to the valley’s famously clannish billionaire elites.
—
James McClain, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2023
There are a broad spectrum of other possible explanations for the disparate outcomes Boegeman cites, including religious differences, geographic differences, even — gasp — the clannish propensity of ethnic groups to band together and create — or retain — their unique cultural traditions.
—Star Tribune, 19 July 2021
The Trumps are nothing if not clannish.
—Hari Kunzru, The New York Review of Books, 2 July 2020
In Afghanistan, legitimate authority has traditionally been highly localized, a product of consensus rather than brute force, and firmly anchored in tribal, clannish, and kinship structures.
—Jonah Blank, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2011
See All Example Sentences for clannish
James McClain, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2023
There are a broad spectrum of other possible explanations for the disparate outcomes Boegeman cites, including religious differences, geographic differences, even — gasp — the clannish propensity of ethnic groups to band together and create — or retain — their unique cultural traditions.
—Star Tribune, 19 July 2021
The Trumps are nothing if not clannish.
—Hari Kunzru, The New York Review of Books, 2 July 2020
In Afghanistan, legitimate authority has traditionally been highly localized, a product of consensus rather than brute force, and firmly anchored in tribal, clannish, and kinship structures.
—Jonah Blank, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2011
See All Example Sentences for clannish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clannish
Adjective
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Family-friendly entertainment includes ballet folklórico dance, classic car show by Viejitos Car Club, and musical performances by Mariachi Del Mar, Los Gringos Muertos Band and Smooth Groove.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
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The French fashion house’s new ads, which break in print on Thursday, show Stone and fellow brand ambassador Hoyeon touting the Capucines and Side Trunk bags in fall-friendly colors ranging from cognac to deep navy and taupe.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The way the members of Seventeen are so close-knit and truly like brothers is something their fans, known as Carats, adore.—
Kristine Kwak,
Rolling Stone,
29 Sep. 2025
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Their neighborhood and school make up a small and close-knit community where people know each other.—
Shimon Prokupecz,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The Friends set was notorious for being cliquey and insular.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The raid, Jones says, also exposed familiar fault lines in labor and manufacturing.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
9 Oct. 2025
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Stop us if any of this sounds familiar.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clannish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clannish. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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