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Definition of narrownext
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as in close
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors a narrow gubernatorial contest, the outcome of which may depend upon a handful of votes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in parochial
unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints tried to convince the narrow members of her family that there are many paths to a successful career that don't involve getting a university degree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

narrow

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noun

narrow

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verb

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 narrow
Adjective
Mourners followed Qassem to the family’s home, down a narrow path near an olive grove lined with yellow wildflowers. Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026 This causes your blood vessels to narrow, forcing your heart to pump blood faster through smaller vessels. Sukhman Rekhi, Verywell Health, 21 May 2026
Noun
Many famed surf spots to the south — like Doheny, San Clemente and San Onofre — also have seen the beach narrow precipitously. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026 Dutch parliamentary election tests ruling far-right party Dutch voters cast ballots today in a parliamentary election in which a far-right party that led opinion polls for months has seen its advantage narrow into a three-horse race. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
Regulation should narrow allowable markets and treat them closer to gambling, with strict limits and disclosures. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026 On the ensuing corner kick, Banda scored for her sixth goal of the season to narrow the margin. ABC News, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for narrow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrow
Adjective
  • Health experts are growing increasingly alarmed about the outbreak, arguing that cases have been spreading undetected as public health authorities are stretched thin.
    Lauren Weber, Washington Post, 18 May 2026
  • Few of the film’s ideas truly connect with one another, leaving its lead stars adrift in the process, forcing them to conjure three dimensional details from a script that, intentionally or otherwise, feels paper thin.
    Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
Adjective
  • The hit was a small smudge on Bruins ace Taylor Tinsley’s line, finishing with two strikeouts and three hits across the five innings.
    Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
  • Four nations will be making their debut next month, including tiny Curaçao, the smallest by population ever to qualify.
    James Robson, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
Adjective
  • Marettimo The most remote of the Egadi Islands, tiny Marettimo—accessible via ferry from Trapani—remains delightfully rustic thanks to its limited accessibility, near absence of cars, and lack of large hotels.
    Nicky Swallow, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
  • And while the state has seen strong GDP growth in recent months, business groups still worry that this economic success could be stifled by limited job growth and economic uncertainty in the wake of federal policy changes.
    P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
Adjective
  • Then, style it with jeans to hit the town for drinks with your closest friends.
    Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2026
  • Here, over a dozen or so hammocks hang from palm trees, swaying just over the water, close enough to dip your toes.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 May 2026
Adjective
  • Distraught by life in the South, Reed figured that the only way to escape his parochial childhood was to write his way out.
    Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
  • Research shows the disparity between vaccination coverage in private and parochial/religious versus public schools is that private and parochial/religious schools tend to have higher rates of exemptions to vaccinations for moral and religious beliefs.
    Kar-Hai Chu, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Moreover, glycerin retains moisture for hours post-application—in turn, supplying dewy radiance throughout the day while keeping dryness at bay.
    Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 22 May 2026
  • Add the adobo, sazón, oregano and bay leaves.
    Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • Dwindling enrollment tightened the budget by $89 million halfway through this school year when the purse was already $100 million thinner than last school year.
    Natalie La Roche Pietri, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
  • The best accommodations don’t last on the market for long, and by the time peak summer rolls around, availability tightens fast.
    Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • Their elegance lies in embracing minimalism, streamlined sophistication, and a slender sole, contrasting casual footwear’s more robust and multi-paneled design.
    Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 18 May 2026
  • Bison appear to be much more slender.
    Logan Smith, CBS News, 18 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Narrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrow. Accessed 24 May. 2026.

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