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 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 They are hired hands and stewards of other people’s capital, with no desire to becoming embroiled in internecine squabbles between clashing advocates, parochial activists, and plain opportunists latching on to the moment. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026 In the most parochial place that ever was or ever will be, authenticity functions as a means of psychic gatekeeping, and someone who doesn’t speak the lingua Francona isn’t someone who’s worth listening to when the game’s on. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for parochial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parochial

Adjective

Then handle the smaller responsibilities competing for your attention.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
Its compact permanent magnet motor enables a smaller pod diameter, reducing hydrodynamic drag while maintaining high propulsion performance.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of small

Adjective

But armed officers dressed in camouflage alongside military vehicles have apparently not acted as enough of a deterrent to petty criminals.

— Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
The jury found both Morrow and Stanley guilty of petty misdemeanor charges of obstructing federal property, disrupting government officials’ duties and failing to comply with officials’ orders.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of petty

Adjective

Louisville and Boise State don’t move much after narrow losses to top-10 teams.

— Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The extremely short, picometer-scale wavelength of nuclear-decay neutrinos makes the possible collective emission cone extraordinarily narrow.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of narrow

Adjective

The scale of private capital available to entrepreneurs has made the tech industry a particularly insular space.

— Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Set against the remote, insular world of its titular island, production designer Steve Arnold and set decorator Jennifer Engel created a lived-in, slightly stuck in time and, when necessary, deeply unsettling environment.

— Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of insular

Adjective

The provincial government says the investment will strengthen aerospace capacity and support skilled employment in the province.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
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.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of provincial

Adjective

Many Hindus today identify as Shaivas, Vaishnavas, or Shaktas, sectarian groups that, respectively, worship Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti as supreme, with all other deities considered as manifestations or subordinates.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Experts see the union as evidence that Syria might actually be putting the era of sectarian violence behind it.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of sectarian

Adjective

Elsewhere, Hailey Bieber gave us a lesson in polished wedding guest glam, while Joey King played with the little details on the Practical Magic 2 promo tour.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2026
Bohm cited a 2020 crash that killed 20-year-old driver Ezekial Bishop and his passenger, 18-year-old Ryan Breaux, recording artist Frank Ocean's little brother.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 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 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of parochial

adjective

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