insular
adjective
in·su·lar
ˈin(t)-su̇-lər 
-syu̇-,
ˈin-shə-lər
1
: characteristic of an isolated people
especially
: being, having, or reflecting a narrow provincial viewpoint
2
a
: of, relating to, or constituting an island
b
: dwelling or situated on an island
insular residents
3
: of or relating to an island of cells or tissue
Synonyms
Examples of insular in a Sentence
the insular world of boarding schools
an insular community that is not receptive of new ideas, especially from outsiders
Recent Examples on the Web
This tale of faith and obsession, which was long-listed for the Booker Prize, follows a pair of friends from an insular Baptist community in Essex, England.
—
The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
The trouble is director Brad Anderson and screenwriter Dan Hall fail to properly mine the protagonist’s distressing predicament for its maximum potential, particularly after he’s hunted by a crew of criminals, relegating him and his deaf companion to an insular location.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 10 Oct. 2024
The other big theme is how industries in intense insular fandoms, like gaming, often have deeply problematic workplace cultures that take root from the very beginning and refuse to let go.
—Nilay Patel, The Verge, 3 Oct. 2024
Strikingly, the insular cortex, a part of the brain that connects deeper brain regions with the cortex, had consistent and unique patterns for both positive and negative emotions, but not for mixed ones.
—Anthony Gianni Vaccaro, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insular 
The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
The trouble is director Brad Anderson and screenwriter Dan Hall fail to properly mine the protagonist’s distressing predicament for its maximum potential, particularly after he’s hunted by a crew of criminals, relegating him and his deaf companion to an insular location.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 10 Oct. 2024
The other big theme is how industries in intense insular fandoms, like gaming, often have deeply problematic workplace cultures that take root from the very beginning and refuse to let go.
—Nilay Patel, The Verge, 3 Oct. 2024
Strikingly, the insular cortex, a part of the brain that connects deeper brain regions with the cortex, had consistent and unique patterns for both positive and negative emotions, but not for mixed ones.
—Anthony Gianni Vaccaro, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insular
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near insular
Cite this Entry
“Insular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insular. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insular
adjective
in·su·lar
ˈin(t)s-(y)ə-lər
ˈin-shə-lər
1
: of, relating to, or forming an island
2
: being isolated or detached
an insular building
3
: not open to new or different ideas : narrow
an insular viewpoint
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