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 Many children in Florida attending private, parochial or homeschool programs do not take the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, or FAST, test, which is used by Florida’s public school districts to measure students’ achievement. — Kendall Deas, The Conversation, 6 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 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 See All Example Sentences for parochial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parochial

Adjective

The merch was originally made for OpenAI employees to purchase on an internal site, but the team decided to make a small capsule collection available to the public.

— T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Rival online retailers Ozon and Yandex Market use smaller depots spread over a wider network.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of small

Adjective

And yet the office—its smells and politics, its grievances petty, existential, or edifying—must have made an impression.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026
Look no further for a wake up call than these three actors representing House Hightower, powerful and imposing in their own right, but just as catty and petty as the Lannisters at the end of the day.

— Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of petty

Adjective

Enclosed by a network of 13th-century walls, the narrow streets of old York host myriad awe-inspiring relics from its pre-industrial past, perhaps the most famous being York Minster, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals anywhere.

— Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
The noun developed later for something removed or separated—hence a narrow strip of land, cloth, or material.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of narrow

Adjective

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
For example, academic departments often become insular, scholars may quickly dismiss unfamiliar perspectives without enough knowledge, and some fields would benefit from broader intellectual and methodological representation.

— Marybeth Gasman, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of insular

Adjective

The insecurity has forced some health and aid workers to leave remote Ebola hot spots for the relative safety of the provincial capital, Bunia.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
It was announced a few months after the 2017 provincial election that, with the support of the Green Party, empowered the New Democratic Party.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of provincial

Adjective

The initial proposal, debated since 2019, has exposed sectarian tensions among the country’s multitude of Islamic and Christian sects.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly has pushed back on suggestions that the agreement represents the creation of a new sectarian or military bloc, saying it is not connected to nuclear ambitions or an arms race.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of sectarian

Adjective

The opening of an Auberge Collection property in the little town of Los Olivos is further proof of the area's status as a preeminent New World wine destination.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
So far, none of those efforts has been successful, and opponents say hunting would do little to address the most problematic bears that tend to live closer to residential neighborhoods.

— John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of parochial

adjective

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