as in cliquish
bound together by feelings of very close association
found the people at the brokerage house to be just as cliquey as a gaggle of high school cheerleaders
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Recent Examples of cliquey
The Friends set was notorious for being cliquey and insular.
—
Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliquey
Adjective
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Some flights have left airports in US-friendly Persian Gulf states, including United Arab Emirates cities Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but the situation remains fluid and travelers are being urged to monitor government alert systems and check with their airlines.—
Marnie Hunter,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
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Rely on Rugs Rugs play an important role in the function and look of conversation-friendly room layouts.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The flood of immigrants who settled in the area were a motley crew – clannish Scandinavians, Germans, Irish Catholics escaping famine, Yankees from New England, Black refugees from the segregated South, Mexican workers seeking a better life.—
Harry Boyte,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
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Musk’s companies have always been financially linked to one another in a clannish sort of way, but the reality is: All these AI startups and companies are investing in and selling to one another.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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There just was something very familiar.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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From the steamy streets of Carnival in the late 1970s to the 18th century Arctic tundra and an eerily familiar, fictionalized version of present-day America, this year’s nominees span decades, genres, continents and cultures.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Bediako case is a nice counterexample to the favoritism argument; the first judge stepped aside when his relationship with the university, or at least the coverage and commentary surrounding it, was too close-knit to be ignored, and the second judge ruled against his alma mater.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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The Bruins begin the season with a versatile and close-knit roster, Grant said.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cliquey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliquey. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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