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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
  • In many places, French’s unapologetic, unvarnished bigotry would be disqualifying.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of bigotry
Noun
  • Lactaid, which contains lactase, helps people with lactose intolerance.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
  • 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
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
  • Harper and Wilf are wary of Frith’s visits with Philip, and other characters with their own issues or prejudices have their say as well.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Controversially, Documenta’s explication of antisemitism relies on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition, which considers criticism of Israel a form of prejudice.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 18 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
  • While our new girl bias isn’t as strong as Victoria’s, having those two decades of backstory on her does give a leg up in terms of whose plight is easier to invest in.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The hiring manager’s standards stop living only in people’s heads and start living in the system, applied without misinterpretation or human bias.
    — Pradeep Prasana Kanagaraj, Forbes.com, 25 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
  • As Sand tries to steer the conversation away from partisanship, the first noticeable thing about his campaign is the color scheme of his yard signs, which avoid standard-issue patriotic colors in favor of green and orange.
    — Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • 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
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 27 Sep. 2026.

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