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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Recent Examples of parochial
At times, Pelosi had a majority as small as four votes and at others had to acquiesce to parochial demands of Democratic Senators in a 50-50 Upper Chamber.
—
Philip Elliott, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The move likely seeks to rein in parochial infighting between military branches, which compete for congressional funding every year despite Hegseth and the White House officially controlling the process.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Aquila served as a parochial vicar in two parishes from 1976 to 1982 and then as pastor at Denver’s Guardian Angels Parish from 1982 to 1987.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
Now, fashion is very parochial and very predictable.
—James Fallon, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parochial
Philip Elliott, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The move likely seeks to rein in parochial infighting between military branches, which compete for congressional funding every year despite Hegseth and the White House officially controlling the process.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Aquila served as a parochial vicar in two parishes from 1976 to 1982 and then as pastor at Denver’s Guardian Angels Parish from 1982 to 1987.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
Now, fashion is very parochial and very predictable.
—James Fallon, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parochial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parochial
Adjective
-
Carry a windshield scraper, jumper cables, a small shovel, flashlight, cell phone, blanket and additional warm clothing, drinking water, and high-calorie non-perishable food.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Jan. 2026
-
In fact, sometimes smaller heaters can match or outperform larger units, depending on their design.—
Shivani Vyas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Angel went for a respectful middle-of-the-road jab — complimenting her parenting and resilience, but maligning her for being petty.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Who is not petty or vindictive.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Postseason football is defined by grit and narrow margins.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Industry experts cautioned that a military confrontation could provoke Iran to choke off the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that that connects the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea and through which nearly a third of the world's seaborne crude flows.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The trick will be getting the word out beyond these relatively insular groups, to a wider audience who won’t care that Black’s creative sphere friends are in the campaigns and collaborating on the clothes.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
5 Dec. 2025
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These debates over rhetoric and tactics have been taking place in an insular cultural enclave where forum threads come to vivid life.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
4 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The Islamic Republic has lost many of its best and brightest to emigration, and the members of the élite who remain are, in general, from a more provincial background.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
-
On Saturday afternoon, an explosive drone hit the Aleppo provincial government building shortly after two Cabinet ministers and a local official held a news conference on the developments in the city, state TV said.—
Ghaith Alsayed,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Cole was allegedly inspired to use pipe bombs by his interest in The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the sectarian war between Catholics and Protestants that escalated into violence in the 1970s.—
Gary Grumbach,
NBC news,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Analysts note that clashes among militias, sectarian violence and unresolved command structures have weakened overall security and diverted attention from counterterrorism efforts.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
In contrast to the surge in opioid fatality numbers of the past decade, deaths attributable to cocaine have shown little increase.—
Charles LeBaron,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Houston’s defensive prowess was on display on each snap as Rodgers was left with little to no time to make a decision.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Parochial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parochial. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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