1
as in narrow
unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints
it took a while for some of the more narrow-minded members of management to be persuaded to modernize the dress code
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in parochial
not broad or open in views or opinions
narrow-minded people who instinctively feared and shunned those from different cultures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of narrow-minded
This wicker man becomes a devoted partner, sparking jealousy and malice in her narrow-minded neighbors, exploring themes of love, cruelty, and societal conformity.
—
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
However, such an observation is short-sighted and narrow-minded.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 14 Jan. 2026
Anyone proposing to offer a master class on changing the world for the better, without becoming negative, cynical, angry or narrow-minded in the process, could model their advice on the life and work of pioneering animal behavior scholar Jane Goodall.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
The deficient vice of being open-minded is being narrow-minded.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Knowledge-wise, science may be advancing, but, politically, its powers of persuasion are in retreat, in a moment defined, in many ways, by ignorance and narrow-minded grievance.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Its opposite—illiberal—means stingy, narrow-minded, intolerant, provincial, unenlightened, and using government to insure the flourishing of only the few.
—Harper’s Magazine, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
That is something that has always struck me as strange and narrow-minded.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
However, such an observation is short-sighted and narrow-minded.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 14 Jan. 2026
Anyone proposing to offer a master class on changing the world for the better, without becoming negative, cynical, angry or narrow-minded in the process, could model their advice on the life and work of pioneering animal behavior scholar Jane Goodall.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
The deficient vice of being open-minded is being narrow-minded.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Knowledge-wise, science may be advancing, but, politically, its powers of persuasion are in retreat, in a moment defined, in many ways, by ignorance and narrow-minded grievance.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Its opposite—illiberal—means stingy, narrow-minded, intolerant, provincial, unenlightened, and using government to insure the flourishing of only the few.
—Harper’s Magazine, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
That is something that has always struck me as strange and narrow-minded.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrow-minded
Adjective
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The goal was for the GOP to hold onto a narrow House majority in the face of political headwinds that typically favor the party out of power in midterms.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The narrow waterway, just 21 miles wide, serves as a pinch point for 20 million barrels of crude every day, about one-fifth of global production.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Could the trajectory of a presidency and a major political party, and perhaps modern American history itself, really trace back to a parochial dispute at a Palm Beach club at the start of this century?—
Tara Palmeri,
Vanity Fair,
12 Feb. 2026
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The maximalism and somewhat uncompromising presumption of a newspaper, with its warren of sections and columns and byways, is a quiet reproach to its audience’s most parochial instincts.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Backlash has been swift among many leading Democrats, and even conservative commentator Megyn Kelly, calling Fine's comments bigoted and Islamophobic, and demanding he be censured and step down.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke says the post reflects a ‘bigoted and racist regime’ with deliberate intent to harm and hurt people.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But the proposal would only actually impact a small few — billionaires.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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The first call for help was a silent text message from an emergency beacon, mobilizing a small army of rescuers dispatched from different directions.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Last year’s conflict with Israel laid bare weaknesses in Iran’s command structures under pressure, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reportedly becoming increasingly hard to reach and authority devolving to provincial governors.—
Farida Elsebai,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Havana’s streets and all provincial cities are full of trash and waste dumps are overflowing due to the fuel crisis to the point that residents have begun to burn them.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated February 19,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Anyone who takes or abandons a shopping cart can be convicted of a petty misdemeanor.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
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Vanderpump Rules features all the petty drama of Real Housewives with a messy cast of (very flawed) characters who make plenty of mistakes and get into more than their fair share of conflict.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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As a host, Bragg was both inviting and impatient, genuinely curious about his guests’ ideas but intolerant of digression or indulgent nerding out.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
15 Jan. 2026
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Gluten-intolerant people get sick after eating gluten and may experience digestive issues.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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Somehow, this insular, resolutely regional album ended up yet another peak in his storied career.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Narrow-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrow-minded. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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