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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of small-minded
The momentum behind these ventures — the idea, unpalatable to many of us small-minded, provincial types, of taking domestic league matches abroad — remains strong.
—
Oliver Kay, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
But small-minded individuals, who happened to be blocking our path at any point in time, my goal was to get around them.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Incremental development and half-measures got us into this problem; that small-minded thinking will not get us out of it.
—Zellnor Myrie, New York Daily News, 9 June 2025
The message Fountain Hills council members sent was petty and small-minded
If it was meant to force the paper to straighten up and fly right, at least in their eyes, the council members failed.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 7 June 2025
Identify 5 specific behaviors, habits, or thought patterns that would seem ridiculous or small-minded to someone playing at a higher level.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
The way that Pliny saw it, astrology was small-minded fatalism, in which people glommed onto meaningless symbols for a sense of identity.
—Maya Layne, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
Their small-minded nature is justified through closeness, but really, everyone seems miserable, with their connections to Judaism existing in social standing only.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
Abbas has steadily devolved into an erratic and small-minded authoritarian.
—Khaled Elgindy, Foreign Affairs, 30 Aug. 2024
Oliver Kay, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
But small-minded individuals, who happened to be blocking our path at any point in time, my goal was to get around them.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Incremental development and half-measures got us into this problem; that small-minded thinking will not get us out of it.
—Zellnor Myrie, New York Daily News, 9 June 2025
The message Fountain Hills council members sent was petty and small-minded
If it was meant to force the paper to straighten up and fly right, at least in their eyes, the council members failed.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 7 June 2025
Identify 5 specific behaviors, habits, or thought patterns that would seem ridiculous or small-minded to someone playing at a higher level.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
The way that Pliny saw it, astrology was small-minded fatalism, in which people glommed onto meaningless symbols for a sense of identity.
—Maya Layne, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
Their small-minded nature is justified through closeness, but really, everyone seems miserable, with their connections to Judaism existing in social standing only.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
Abbas has steadily devolved into an erratic and small-minded authoritarian.
—Khaled Elgindy, Foreign Affairs, 30 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small-minded
Adjective
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The goal was for the GOP to hold onto a narrow House majority in the face of political headwinds that typically favor the party out of power in midterms.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The narrow waterway, just 21 miles wide, serves as a pinch point for 20 million barrels of crude every day, about one-fifth of global production.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Could the trajectory of a presidency and a major political party, and perhaps modern American history itself, really trace back to a parochial dispute at a Palm Beach club at the start of this century?—
Tara Palmeri,
Vanity Fair,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The maximalism and somewhat uncompromising presumption of a newspaper, with its warren of sections and columns and byways, is a quiet reproach to its audience’s most parochial instincts.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Last year’s conflict with Israel laid bare weaknesses in Iran’s command structures under pressure, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reportedly becoming increasingly hard to reach and authority devolving to provincial governors.—
Farida Elsebai,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Havana’s streets and all provincial cities are full of trash and waste dumps are overflowing due to the fuel crisis to the point that residents have begun to burn them.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated February 19,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But the proposal would only actually impact a small few — billionaires.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The first call for help was a silent text message from an emergency beacon, mobilizing a small army of rescuers dispatched from different directions.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Backlash has been swift among many leading Democrats, and even conservative commentator Megyn Kelly, calling Fine's comments bigoted and Islamophobic, and demanding he be censured and step down.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke says the post reflects a ‘bigoted and racist regime’ with deliberate intent to harm and hurt people.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Here are some of the pettiest, most unimportant frustrations so far.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Forget all this childish behavior and just stop being so petty.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This wicker man becomes a devoted partner, sparking jealousy and malice in her narrow-minded neighbors, exploring themes of love, cruelty, and societal conformity.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
-
However, such an observation is short-sighted and narrow-minded.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Somehow, this insular, resolutely regional album ended up yet another peak in his storied career.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
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In this unforgettable work of literary-fiction, Desiree and Stella leave their insular community to explore the world.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Small-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small-minded. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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