1
as in narrow
unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints
it took a while for some of the more narrow-minded members of management to be persuaded to modernize the dress code
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in parochial
not broad or open in views or opinions
narrow-minded people who instinctively feared and shunned those from different cultures
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 narrow-minded
Instead of articulating a compelling vision that could spark a broad-minded counterpunch to narrow-minded populism, Newsom has taken an oddly defeatist course in his first podcasts.
—
Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Gazing out onto Prince William Sound with its stunning scenery had this narrow-minded city-and-car guy bitten by the cruise bug.
—David Dickstein, Orange County Register, 5 Feb. 2025
The Grammys have always prized a narrow-minded, classic sense of musicianship: deft songwriting, big vocals, live instrumentation.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2025
Some people associate a frugal spender with a narrow-minded person who is a tightwad, a cheapskate, a penny-pincher, and worse of all an outright scrooge.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
People are going to take things and run with them and be narrow-minded or whatever or take something out of context.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2024
The art world was dismissing the popular reception of Photorealism with a similarly narrow-minded explanation: Ordinary people, whose experience was being represented, liked it.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
That’s the rigorous—or narrow-minded—judgment that . . .
—Gordon Hughes, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024
But the pacing is zippy; the animation is lush and textured, especially when the series, unexpectedly and wonderfully, veers into the supernatural; and the characterization tweaks are inspired, especially those that will make the most narrow-minded people mad.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2024
Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Gazing out onto Prince William Sound with its stunning scenery had this narrow-minded city-and-car guy bitten by the cruise bug.
—David Dickstein, Orange County Register, 5 Feb. 2025
The Grammys have always prized a narrow-minded, classic sense of musicianship: deft songwriting, big vocals, live instrumentation.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2025
Some people associate a frugal spender with a narrow-minded person who is a tightwad, a cheapskate, a penny-pincher, and worse of all an outright scrooge.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
People are going to take things and run with them and be narrow-minded or whatever or take something out of context.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2024
The art world was dismissing the popular reception of Photorealism with a similarly narrow-minded explanation: Ordinary people, whose experience was being represented, liked it.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
That’s the rigorous—or narrow-minded—judgment that . . .
—Gordon Hughes, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024
But the pacing is zippy; the animation is lush and textured, especially when the series, unexpectedly and wonderfully, veers into the supernatural; and the characterization tweaks are inspired, especially those that will make the most narrow-minded people mad.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrow-minded
Adjective
-
The narrow five-game spread between the top and bottom performers illustrates the relative consistency in baseline predictive ability.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Any migrant can individually bring a claim, Harris argued, but only in Texas where they're being held, and only along narrower grounds.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
For the Americans working in Germany, the industry chain of command conflicted with cultural politics — Americans held parochial views about their post–World War II national superiority.—
Armond White,
National Review,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Currently the parochial vicar at St. Lucy Parish in Campbell, Rev. Pedigo formerly served as pastor at St. Julie Billiart and Our Lady of Guadalupe in San Jose.—
Sal Pizarro,
The Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Democrats lost an election to someone with autocratic tendencies who has expressed endless racist, bigoted, and misogynistic beliefs.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
-
The damage included bigoted graffiti and gallons of chemical spillage, the agency said.—
Marin Independent Journal,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Lee already had six permanent tattoos –– small ones easily hidden by clothing –– and thought this was a good opportunity to try out a more visible tattoo.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Hybrid solutions are currently typically used for small systems.—
ILYA Likhov,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
There will be the usual provincial arguments about which league was actually the strongest.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
-
This year the rebels have made significant gains, including seizing the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Image In Davao, Mr. Duterte remains widely popular, remembered for cracking down on problems like drugs, petty crime and violence.—
Aie Balagtas See,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Where Hub once pursued petty criminals, he’s now charged with rounding up escaped demons by the Devil himself.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
At its height, the nu-metal scene — dominated by cisgender white men— was seen as unforgiving, dangerous, and intolerant of women and people of color.—
Jessi Roti,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2025
-
But as the Modi government grew increasingly intolerant of any criticism or challenge, including from overseas, Indian laws that regulate the flow of foreign donor funds into domestic nonprofits grew more stringent and were applied more frequently.—
Anupreeta Das,
New York Times,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The divisiveness and vitriol at the state and especially national level is undoubtedly feeding into this local election, as society in general has become more tribal and insular, thanks in large part to the weaponization of social media.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2025
-
Yet, Xi’s visit laid bare the true nature of California’s political machinery — an insular, dynastic system dominated by ultrawealthy progressives whose priorities shift when the right people are watching.—
Carson Becker,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Narrow-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrow-minded. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share