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
-
From art and music at the museum to Oktoberfest beers and block parties, the calendar is stacked with events that range from family-friendly to nightlife-ready.—
Tiffani Jackson Skinner,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The bootcut bottoms come in a petite-friendly 27-inch inseam, which, according to the product’s description, fits those 5-foot-3 and under.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
5 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
-
In this way, its role as a familiar calendar entity argues profoundly for itself, unsinkable and ever-long.—
Jordan Michelman,
The Atlantic,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Now, the Dragons (1-0) will face a familiar foe in Hebron.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clannish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clannish. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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