1
as in thin
being of less than usual width
found a narrow opening in the fence that he was able to squeeze through
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in small
not broad or open in views or opinions
a narrow person who thought that anyone who even owned a television had been morally corrupted by society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in limited
having distinct or certain limits
a play about human suffering, but in a narrower sense, also about the modern struggles of the working-class poor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
5
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
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
Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
But the party’s narrow control of both chambers makes that a heavy lift.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
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
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2026
Carr’s guidance published in January, however, sought to narrow this exemption for talk shows.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for narrow
Adjective
More than 14 million barrels per day of oil and condensates passed through the narrow waterway on average in 2025, according to data from consulting firm Kpler, which says that accounts for a third of total worldwide seaborne oil exports.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
But the party’s narrow control of both chambers makes that a heavy lift.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
Chargers win if: The Chargers’ margin for error narrows in Week 10 after their victories the past two weeks.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
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
The Naismith Trophy will narrow down 10 semifinalists on March 13, then shorten the list to four finalists on March 25.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2026
Carr’s guidance published in January, however, sought to narrow this exemption for talk shows.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for narrow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrow
Adjective
-
Expanding its computing lineup, HONOR will unveil the MagicPad4 tablet and MagicBook Pro 14 laptop, both built to demonstrate how AI-powered features can boost productivity while retaining ultra-thin designs.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Lopez accessorized with a thin belt, boots, and a black handbag, as well as some gold hoops.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But the proposal would only actually impact a small few — billionaires.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
Claimed to be an all-weather solution, the system provides precision, even in limited visibility scenarios.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Feb. 2026
-
For instance, purebred Tajima Kuoge Wagyu cow beef, aged a minimum of 36 months, is supplied to a very limited number of restaurants worldwide, including Tsukimi, the Japanese eatery at the hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Another category that would likely unnerve boards of directors, according to Minow, is close ties with Epstein following his controversial 2008 guilty plea to procuring a minor for prostitution.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
With Jackson’s death Tuesday, leaders across the region reflected on a legacy that helped shape a generation of local activism and public service — none more so than Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, a close friend for more than five decades.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Yan raised Eileen Gu right across the bay in San Francisco.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Do bay leaves actually do anything in cooking?—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Now, five years after establishing overtime rules for Colorado’s farmworkers, Democratic legislators are weighing dueling bills to either ease or tighten those standards.—
The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Spring is a reset—less about chasing trends, more about tightening the edit.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This dwarf variety produces slender, upright branches that, if left unpruned, put forth a graceful weeping habit.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
16 Feb. 2026
-
There’s a slender streak of humor, dry and combustible as kindling, in the film’s exploration of this absurd domestic setup, which lays out the rigid expectations of women and men alike in a punishingly conservative society.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Narrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrow. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
