small-minded

adjective

ˈsmȯl-ˈmīn-dəd How to pronounce small-minded (audio)
Definition of small-mindednext
1
as in narrow
unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints a small-minded man only concerned with his own well-being

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in parochial
not broad or open in views or opinions resented the small-minded people who automatically opposed every new idea

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 small-minded And among the small-minded, the idea of a female Bond remains unthinkable. — Judy Berman, Time, 15 July 2026 All those small-hearted, small-minded people, there’s a hell for you. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 25 May 2026 All those small-hearted, small-minded people, there's a hell for you. — Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 25 May 2026 Stedman offers a heartfelt homage to the virtues of rural community and the natural beauty unique to Western Australia, as well as a critique of the strictures and dangers inherent in small-minded communities. — The Know, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for small-minded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small-minded
  1. narrow
  2. parochial
  3. provincial
  4. small
  5. bigoted
  6. petty
  7. narrow-minded
  8. insular
Adjective
  • Despite steady attacks from Iran, oil tankers and other commercial vessels have continued flowing through the narrow waterway.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Acton holds a narrow edge over Republican firebrand Vivek Ramaswamy, while Kaptur is contending with a tough reelection battle after Ohio Republicans redrew the boundaries of the longtime congresswoman’s district to pull in more GOP voters.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Our small island has arguably contributed more in terms of popular music than any other nation, but British driving songs are unavoidably parochial.
    — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Since 2015, a flurry of cases has decided issues as parochial as how much individual athletes are paid out of broadcast revenues and how long student athletes are eligible to play.
    — Sen. Rand Paul OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of parochial
Adjective
  • But Carney’s united front is being tested once more, following separatist Parti Québécois’ (PQ) win in Quebec’s provincial election on Monday.
    — Tiago Ventura, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
  • New Brunswick’s provincial government has already signed a Letter of Intent to purchase power from the plant.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of provincial
Adjective
  • There’s also a small but well-equipped 24-hour gym, a sauna, steam rooms, and a Jacuzzi area with daybeds.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In a small Idaho town, a young mother is accused of killing her young twins.
    — Glenn Thrush Eric Schmitt Liam Stack Tim Balk, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • The killing, often deliberate, of more than twenty thousand children in Gaza injured consciences, not purses, and consciences could be managed with some ritual censuring of Benjamin Netanyahu or his proudly bigoted colleagues.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Over the five hours that follow, the series tracks what led to the tragedy — specifically, his complicated relationship with his resentful, bigoted next-door neighbor, Clive (David Morrissey).
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of bigoted
Adjective
  • Stanley’s co-defendant, unsuccessful county commissioner candidate and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus driver Heather Morrow, was found guilty of the petty offenses and the misdemeanor assault charge.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Letts makes the most of his brief screen time as a manipulator whose petty genius lies in creating an artificial scarcity for his affections.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of petty
Adjective
  • Now, our narrow-minded and hard-hearted lawmakers and education overseers do not want undocumented students in Florida to get a college education.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Debbie Duncan, director of talent acquisition at Northwestern Mutual, says one of the biggest mistakes new graduates can make is being narrow-minded with their job search.
    — Courtney Connley-Hampton, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
Definition of narrow-minded
Adjective
  • Even once insular South Korea is welcoming more migrant workers to make up for its low birthrate.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
  • That rarely happens with Idaho’s insular faith-healing communities.
    — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of insular

Browse Nearby Words

smallish
small-minded
small-mindedness
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Cite this Entry

“Small-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small-minded. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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