as in parochial
not broad or open in views or opinions
an insular community that is not receptive of new ideas, especially from outsiders
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insular
Industry started as an insular show with most of the action taking place on the London trading floor of the fictional Pierpoint & Co.
—
Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 23 Feb. 2026
Nearly all clients were white, came from similar educational and social backgrounds, elite schools, insular networks, and a culture built around exclusivity disguised as meritocracy.
—Brennan Nevada Johnson, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026
Somehow, this insular, resolutely regional album ended up yet another peak in his storied career.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
In this unforgettable work of literary-fiction, Desiree and Stella leave their insular community to explore the world.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insular
Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 23 Feb. 2026
Nearly all clients were white, came from similar educational and social backgrounds, elite schools, insular networks, and a culture built around exclusivity disguised as meritocracy.
—Brennan Nevada Johnson, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026
Somehow, this insular, resolutely regional album ended up yet another peak in his storied career.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
In this unforgettable work of literary-fiction, Desiree and Stella leave their insular community to explore the world.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insular
Adjective
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But quietly, the third-year forward had put himself in position for a more parochial reserve reward, one that caught him unaware.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
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The school, a private parochial campus overseen by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, had 390 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in 2025, according to its website.—
Nick El Hajj,
Des Moines Register,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Some of the district's smallest elementary schools now serve only a couple of hundred students, limiting available resources.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Higher bond yields ripple through all kinds of credit markets, making everything from mortgages to small-business loans more expensive.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Hole, Oleg and Martin Aminov (Simon J Berger), a petty gun smuggler mistakenly accused of being the serial killer, wind up in a stationary elevator stuck between two floors with an armed Waaler reaching in to grab Oleg’s hair.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
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The show will focus on the disappearance of petty criminal El Nani (aka Santiago Correla).—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Plus Yosh Nijman, Ekwonu’s backup and the Panthers’ swing tackle, suddenly retired earlier this month — flinging the Panthers’ offensive line plan into even narrower straits.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
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As deductions narrow and dependents age out, Roth withdrawals become one of the cleanest sources of tax-free income available for the 62-to-70 age group.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insular. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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