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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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 Such decisions arguably can best be done at a state level rather than from the more parochial position of city mayors. — David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026 Besides, the budget has a little something for every lawmaker, with about 2,000 parochial projects sprinkled across the state, the vast majority sponsored by Republicans. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 May 2026 Distraught by life in the South, Reed figured that the only way to escape his parochial childhood was to write his way out. — Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026 The school, a private parochial campus overseen by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, had 390 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in 2025, according to its website. — Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for parochial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parochial

Adjective

The division charged with keeping a handle on parasitic diseases had already been small, with only a few employees designated to parasite work.

— Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
When states lose the authority to set their own food safety and agricultural standards, consumers and small farmers pay the price.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026

Definition of small

Adjective

The Greek myths are rife with petty and meddlesome deities squabbling, playing favorites, punishing harshly, and otherwise wreaking havoc on the lives of mortal men.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2026
In each social-commentary-teetering-on-horror episode, Nanno is a pupil at a different school, picture perfect and scanning the room for whatever secrets — an abusive teacher, an absurd hierarchical system, petty jealousy — demand to be revealed.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of petty

Adjective

That ought to be advantageous for the Spaniard, who seemed too often to run aground when trapped inside in a more narrow system.

— Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 July 2026
But the school board is the most notable exception, where Republicans cling to a narrow 4-3 majority after years of bruising elections.

— Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of narrow

Adjective

Meanwhile, the word on Grand Illusion was getting out beyond the insular arthouse crowd.

— Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026
Edelman shared the data this week at his firm’s annual Trust Summit in New York, where the question on every leader’s mind was how to build trust in an increasingly insular world.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 17 July 2026

Definition of insular

Adjective

The fires prompted evacuations, including in Nova Scotia where there’s a large fire that local and provincial crews have been fighting since Wednesday, and in northwestern Ontario, where some of the most intense fires are burning.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026
The report cited testimony that provincial fleets still include 22 older CL-215 aircraft and that at least 20 aircraft require immediate replacement.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2026

Definition of provincial

Adjective

In the months after Assad’s fall in Syria, there were several eruptions of violence between groups loyal and opposed to al-Sharaa that spiraled into sectarian revenge attacks, in which Sunni Islamist fighters affiliated with the new government carried out attacks on Alawite and Druze civilians.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 June 2026
During the Biden administration, the DSA hemorrhaged members amid sectarian infighting, especially over Palestine.

— Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 June 2026

Definition of sectarian

Adjective

The latest appearance will do little to quell criticism of Infantino, who is standing currently unopposed for re-election as FIFA president.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 18 July 2026
At a press conference with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, government officials said that the fire had started unusually close to the community in Collins, leaving little time to respond.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 18 July 2026

Definition of little

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parlous

parochial

parochialism

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“Parochial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parochial. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of parochial

adjective

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