cliquish

adjective

Definition of cliquishnext
as in clannish
bound together by feelings of very close association the cliquish White House press corps soon let him know that he was not on the A-list

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cliquish Alexandra Pechman’s feature debut drops Lily McInerny’s Nora into the cliquish literary world of 2011, where an internship at a taste-making magazine means reading the slush pile, fetching coffee, and navigating exclusive parties. — John Ross, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026 Whitehead wanted to write, but workshops rejected him and the cliquish undergraduate literary scene put him off. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliquish
  1. clannish
  2. friendly
  3. cliquey
  4. familiar
  5. close-knit
  6. close
Adjective
  • The Machine was lambasted, fairly, for its clannish coördination and its efforts to keep Democratic politics in a certain mainstream style.
    — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • In the Middle Ages, local churchgoers whispered of clannish Jews poisoning wells to kill Christian children and steal their blood for their rituals.
    — Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of clannish
Adjective
  • Next-level attentiveness from friendly staff certainly helps.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • But certain corners of the site hold up well, particularly bedroom storage and budget-friendly outdoor furniture.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of friendly
Adjective
  • The middle daughter of the family has always felt outside of its cliquey confines, what with Lizzy and Jane forming such a pair and Kitty and Lydia (Molly Wright and Grace Hogg-Robinson) practically sharing a brain.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
  • The Friends set was notorious for being cliquey and insular.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Definition of cliquey
Adjective
  • Budgets have tightened and commissioners have retreated to the familiar — backing low-cost dramas and safe-bet crime formats.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The lineup also brings other familiar names in alternative music.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of familiar
Adjective
  • McKeown offers audiences a beautiful snapshot of an eroding but close-knit community and a man determined to save it.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Bridgeport sits just outside of downtown on the Near South Side, and homeowners are close-knit.
    — Jermont Terry, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of close-knit
Adjective
  • While her work regularly brings her into close proximity with children, Uta has little interest in starting a family of her own.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Microsoft was a close third with 6,258, according to the USCIS data hub.
    — Marshall Ritzel,Gabriel Cortés, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of close

Browse Nearby Words

cliquey
cliquish
cliquishness
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Cite this Entry

“Cliquish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliquish. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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