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narrow-mindedness

noun

as in bigotry
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices the narrow-mindedness of some people prevents them from seeing that not all changes are for the worse

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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-mindedness That narrow-mindedness is immediately apparent when Nick asks his congregation to help the group of unhoused people, a little over a dozen souls or so, who live in a makeshift camp on the edge of town. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026 Mann loves a man with an obsession, but this sentiment is about expanding that narrow-mindedness to make space in our lives for others. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrow-mindedness
  1. bigotry
  2. intolerance
  3. dogmatism
  4. prejudice
  5. small-mindedness
  6. bias
  7. illiberalism
  8. partisanship
Noun
  • Even amid extraordinary acts of solidarity, Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Americans were subjected to hatred and bigotry, some of which persists today.
    — Steven Fulop, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In fact, at no point in his broader career has the 31-year-old, who is known for his racist slurs and unabashed bigotry, achieved anything of note.
    — Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of bigotry
Noun
  • Because of this, Halperin says many people with mild lactose intolerance tolerate kefir better than ordinary milk, though kefir is not lactose-free unless labeled accordingly.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Symptoms include baby fever, exacerbated by the pregnancy announcement of her sister Macy (Zosia Mamet), and an intolerance to her pompous, long-term but non-committal boyfriend Spencer (Finn Wittrock).
    — Katie Walsh, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of intolerance
Noun
  • When authenticity becomes uncompromising, candor turns belligerent, consistency becomes rigid, or principled decision-making morphs into dogmatism, even the best intentions can backfire.
    — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • By staying so close to black metal’s core sound, Marchenko does more to undermine the dogmatism—both racial and aesthetic—of Vikernes and his ilk than a more obviously experimental project might.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of dogmatism
Noun
  • In May 2022, the parties signed an agreement dismissing the arbitration without prejudice.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Conley, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, dismissed the case without prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and granted the defendants’ sanctions motions.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of prejudice
Noun
  • The show gestures at the classic targets of old-timey sexism, small-mindedness, and nativism—much of it embodied by Gasteyer’s scheming character—but only in the safest possible ways.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of small-mindedness
Noun
  • Vucic was critical that multiple other purported crimes against ethnic Serb civilians have not been taken into account, claiming anti-Serb bias.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • This month, Bryan Kohberger also requested a new judge to oversee the process, saying comments made by Judge Steven Hippler during his sentencing showed bias.
    — Mark Guarino, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of bias
Noun
  • Resorting to violence merely strengthens the forces of illiberalism and sense of disorder upon which Trumpism feeds.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The signal predicament of our era is the global rise of illiberalism and intolerance.
    — Christopher Beha, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of illiberalism
Noun
  • This suggests that declining faith goes beyond partisanship and reflects a more fundamental question about this group’s sense of belonging.
    — Diana Orcés, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The partisanship changes will still wait until two years from now, but in November, voters throughout the county will be able to select candidates.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of partisanship

Browse Nearby Words

narrow-minded
narrow-mindedness
narrowness
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Cite this Entry

“Narrow-mindedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrow-mindedness. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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