PAROCHIAL Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

parochial

adjective

pə-ˈrō-kē-əl

Definition of parochial

as in small

not broad or open in views or opinions the parochial pastimes of the people in that rural farm town

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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 parochial Several residents who spoke at the meetings characterized the opposition as a vocal minority of residents who have fixated on a few mostly parochial issues. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026 All but one, Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, were either parochial or had some religious affiliation. — Arkansas Online, 25 July 2026 Realism shouldn’t be applied to a show like President Curtis, but the initial adventure isn’t funny enough to stanch the flow of parochial curiosities. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026 From a parochial point of view, former Bruin goalie Joonas Korpisalo is now a Blueshirt after being dealt to Broadway on July 1. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for parochial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parochial

Adjective

Book the white, cream, and silver Diaghilev suite, which has double doors that open onto a small balcony with the bay of Positano at your feet.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Instead, excess testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes the hair follicles to become smaller and then the hair strands to become thinner.

— Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of small

Adjective

If truly transformational donors must remain a narrow exception because their philanthropy creates opportunities for thousands of students, say so openly and make that exception exceedingly rare.

— Jayson Weingarten, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
Glen Arbor to Traverse City On the Leelanau Peninsula, M-22 squeezes onto a narrow isthmus between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau, landing in the resort community of Leland.

— Mike Norton, Midwest Living, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of narrow

Adjective

Though Best Original Song can seem impenetrable, as the Music Branch that determines the shortlist and nominees for the category has its own insular politics, Swift has inched her way closer to a nomination with every song she’s written for a film.

— Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 26 Sep. 2026
But after years of success for automakers such as GM, the Chinese automotive sector has rapidly changed from an insular industry to the biggest exporter of vehicles globally.

— Michael Wayland, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of insular

Adjective

Twenty whales -- 19 belugas and one killer whale -- had died at Marineland since 2019, according to provincial government data obtained through freedom of information laws and official statements.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
The New Democrats won a narrow majority in the 2024 provincial election, giving Eby enough seats to govern without relying on another party, and he was not required to call another election until 2028.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of provincial

Adjective

The sectarian violence rocked Northern Ireland for almost 30 years, pitting Catholics against Protestants, mostly over questions of British rule.

— Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
The government's counter-insurgency spiraled into sectarian violence.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of sectarian

Adjective

Check-in and check-out are swift, valet has relatively little wait time, and the restaurant staff is accustomed to serving meals around performances at the Merrill Theater across the street.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Sep. 2026
That might be a big casserole of stuffing, a batch of chocolate chip cookies, or any situation in which adding too little salt would be a hard deficit to overcome later on.

— Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of little

Browse Nearby Words

parlous

parochial

parochialism

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“Parochial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parochial. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of parochial

adjective

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