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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Uncompensated seizure under the land-expropriation law can only be pursued under narrow circumstances—when land is unused or has been abandoned, for example—and the program seemingly has yet to seize any property.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
While competitors use narrower aspect ratios, Apple is expected to adopt a wider ratio for the inner display.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Any negative pushback in this moment will be interpreted as a small-minded and eminently self-serving response that puts parochial party interests above the interests of the country.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
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Democrats who opposed the bill, however, said the money would mainly go to private or parochial institutions and is part of the Republican caucus's efforts to direct money into private education.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Khalil has rebutted the government’s characterizations of his advocacy as bigoted or supportive of violence.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
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Modern warfare has shown that traditional radar systems often struggle to identify and monitor many small drones flying together.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
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Adjust a subscription or renegotiate a small fee, then record the change, because tracking progress reinforces confidence and protects your careful planning.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
An Ontario couple’s pandemic-era home renovation turned into a financial nightmare after ancestral Indigenous remains were discovered on their property, triggering a provincial law that forces homeowners to fund costly archaeological investigations with little hope of relief.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
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What the Law Says About Ancient Remains The discovery triggered a process governed by a 2002 provincial law — the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act (FBCSA) — which requires a Burial Site Investigation when remains are found.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What is the pettiest thing that annoys you during a race weekend?—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Travelers can also take additional steps by staying vigilant for petty crime, and moving throughout the city with extra awareness.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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He’d been gluten intolerant since childhood and had dealt with IBS at different intervals.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Feb. 2026
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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
Adjective
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And yet what’s readily apparent is that this weird, fragile, insular family is genuinely keen on folding Tommy into their lives.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Counter to the notion that a focus on caste and community is insular and, therefore, detrimental to business, Jayaraman embraces his heritage with a certain chutzpah and a largesse that makes customers return with their friends and family.—
Kalpana Mohan,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Narrow-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrow-minded. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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