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
According to the study, many insular or island duck species had reduced flying abilities.
—
Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
In Experiment City, scientific progress and a collective ethos have had counterintuitive social consequences: Citizens occupy uniform studio apartments, becoming increasingly insular and fastidious about the cleanness of their bodies.
—Madeleine Feeny, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The Texas emergency appears to have begun in an insular religious community with high vaccination exemption rates; 14 percent of all children in Gaines County have exemptions.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 18 Mar. 2025
Our heroine is Devon (Meghann Fahy), a hot mess from Buffalo who has arrived on a rich and insular Martha’s Vineyard-eque island in search of her younger sister Simone (Milly Alcock).
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for insular
Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
In Experiment City, scientific progress and a collective ethos have had counterintuitive social consequences: Citizens occupy uniform studio apartments, becoming increasingly insular and fastidious about the cleanness of their bodies.
—Madeleine Feeny, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The Texas emergency appears to have begun in an insular religious community with high vaccination exemption rates; 14 percent of all children in Gaines County have exemptions.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 18 Mar. 2025
Our heroine is Devon (Meghann Fahy), a hot mess from Buffalo who has arrived on a rich and insular Martha’s Vineyard-eque island in search of her younger sister Simone (Milly Alcock).
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for insular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insular
Adjective
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In his quest for a definitive biography of Joyce as a cosmopolitan artist, above the parochial fray, Ellmann downplayed Joyce’s interest in politics.—
Eric Bulson,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2025
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Rather, Colbert won after knocking, by his count, on 20,000 doors, wearing out several pairs of size 15 shoes and putting parochial concerns, such as wildfire prevention, disaster preparedness and flood control, at the center of his campaign.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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The small core teams who operate them are usually experts in biodiversity and community engagement, but not marketing.—
Michelle Greenwald,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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The motherboard is quite a bit smaller than the Framework Laptop 13 board, and the two are definitely not interchangeable.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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The film is described as an intense drama about two Palestinian refugees living in Athens, caught between petty scams and the hope of a better life in Germany.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
21 June 2025
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In the end, what started as a petty doormat rivalry has turned into something much more joyful.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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The Democratic primary for the New York City mayor’s race has tightened further in the latest Marist Poll, with former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ahead but with a narrower lead.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
18 June 2025
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This is due to the narrow percentage of Black filmmakers who have been given the space to make and distribute films for theatrical release.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insular. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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