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 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
  • Food and drink Tucked on the backside of the hotel, Peter B’s is a buzzy brewery and local hangout with a dog-friendly patio.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
  • At Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, the MLS All-Stars defeated the Liga MX All-Stars in the MLS All-Star Game, 4-3, in the friendly designed to promote the league to new audiences.
    — Kamran Nia July 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 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
  • And the book bearing his name is no ancient tome but a slim, spare novel set in an unsettlingly familiar landscape.
    — Colin Dwyer, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Most likely the name Lynn Stiles is at-best vaguely familiar to Chiefs fans.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of familiar
Adjective
  • In fact, the Inter Miami FC star's entire family is close-knit and involved in his athletic career.
    — Adam England, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
  • The design team, small and close-knit, became something of a surrogate family.
    — Christopher Bollen, Vogue, 16 June 2026
Definition of close-knit
Adjective
  • Cuba has struggled to import fuel since the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, Havana’s closest ally.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Punk hit a big clothesline for a close two-count and then went for the GTS.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 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 5 Aug. 2026.

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