as in bigotry
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices
an ideological sectarianism that prevented the political party from ever being anything more than a fringe group
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sectarianism
Noun
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The elevation of mediocre texts has the advantage of continuing a conversation, at least, while the banning of texts, in its shadow-play projection of crude bigotries onto a public stage, furthers repressive silence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026 -
The world has devolved into the worst-case scenario of oppression, bigotry and hatred.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And many folks thought that that was a type of dogmatism and inflexibility that was not productive.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
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That — metaphorically and literally — is earned dogmatism, the risk that expertise breeds rigidity in our thinking and decision-making.—
Tim Maurer,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Although goat yogurt contains less lactose than cow yogurt, it’s not recommended for those with severe lactose intolerance or for those who are allergic to milk proteins.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
21 Feb. 2026
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His 2019 Broadway revival of Oklahoma turned a show beloved as a celebration of the bright, enterprising nature of the American spirit into a menacing exhumation of the nation’s instinct toward self-mythologizing intolerance.—
Talya Zax,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The complaint was dismissed with prejudice.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
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The case was settled out of court last year after FKA Twigs dropped the lawsuit with prejudice.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The polls served as a point of reference for journalists and tracked data on partisanship and other rapid public opinion moves during a president's term, USA TODAY reported.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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In addition to tracking a president's popularity, the polls also reveal partisanship and other rapid public opinion moves while a president is in office.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Orban and Putin once shared a close working relationship, grounded in energy deals and mutual illiberalism.—
NIC CHEESEMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
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Space warfare, cyber defense, mass migration, corruption, and illiberalism require fluency, adaptability, empathy, and collaboration.—
Loree Sutton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Someone with a deep connection to Texas A&M University may be able to put aside their bias and give the University of Texas a fair trial, the judge noted a couple of times in the echoey downtown Fort Worth courtroom jammed with nine defendants.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated February 17,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Feb. 2026
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In his second hour of comedy, the Comedy Cellar regular discusses divorce, middle-age and cats — sharing his thoughts on the world’s bias against men with cats.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Sectarianism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sectarianism. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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