as in ethnic
of, relating to, or reflecting the traits exhibited by a group of people with a common ancestry and culture
a tribal solidarity that transcends all other loyalties or bonds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 tribal
Humans, therefore, are assumed to be inherently tribal because of our prehistoric ancestors.
—
Dr. Rami Kaminski, Time, 18 June 2025
Less than two years ago, the administration of President Joe Biden announced what tribal leaders hailed as an unprecedented commitment to the Native tribes whose ways of life had been devastated by federal dam-building along the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest.
—Tony Schick, ProPublica, 13 June 2025
Unlike many other tribes, which were forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands and relocated to reservations, the Anishinaabe never left the Great Lakes, and many tribal members still live in the region today.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2025
The measures would have rewritten principles in the country’s founding document, a treaty between Māori tribal leaders and representatives of the British Crown signed at the time New Zealand was colonized.
—Charlotte Graham-McLay, Christian Science Monitor, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tribal
Dr. Rami Kaminski, Time, 18 June 2025
Less than two years ago, the administration of President Joe Biden announced what tribal leaders hailed as an unprecedented commitment to the Native tribes whose ways of life had been devastated by federal dam-building along the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest.
—Tony Schick, ProPublica, 13 June 2025
Unlike many other tribes, which were forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands and relocated to reservations, the Anishinaabe never left the Great Lakes, and many tribal members still live in the region today.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2025
The measures would have rewritten principles in the country’s founding document, a treaty between Māori tribal leaders and representatives of the British Crown signed at the time New Zealand was colonized.
—Charlotte Graham-McLay, Christian Science Monitor, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tribal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tribal
Adjective
-
The Council noted that racial and ethnic differences to the question were small.—
Karlyn Bowman,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
While census participants are asked about their racial and ethnic background, the agency never asks about residency status.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
But the racial order of the day also made these jobs, which were physically challenging to begin with, especially demeaning, humiliating, and fraught with danger.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
21 June 2025
-
Whereas Biden sought to mend the nation’s racial divisions after the George Floyd protests, Trump built his revanchist second presidency on the demonization of diversity.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
The United Nations broadly defines genocide as seriously harming or killing members of a group with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2022
-
Pippa Small Getty ImagesJeff Spicer/BFC Meghan's support for ethnical clothing labels naturally extends to her jewelry collection.—
Marina Liao,
Marie Claire,
2 Jan. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Tribal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tribal. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share