as in small
not broad or open in views or opinions
the parochial pastimes of the people in that rural farm town
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Recent Examples of parochial
Research shows the disparity between vaccination coverage in private and parochial/religious versus public schools is that private and parochial/religious schools tend to have higher rates of exemptions to vaccinations for moral and religious beliefs.
—
Kar-Hai Chu, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
The school, a private parochial campus overseen by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, had 390 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in 2025, according to its website.
—Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
Necks craning to the back of the hall, a hush fell over the small parochial church of Santa María Trinitá on the African island of São Tomé.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Any negative pushback in this moment will be interpreted as a small-minded and eminently self-serving response that puts parochial party interests above the interests of the country.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for parochial
Kar-Hai Chu, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
The school, a private parochial campus overseen by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, had 390 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in 2025, according to its website.
—Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
Necks craning to the back of the hall, a hush fell over the small parochial church of Santa María Trinitá on the African island of São Tomé.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Any negative pushback in this moment will be interpreted as a small-minded and eminently self-serving response that puts parochial party interests above the interests of the country.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for parochial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parochial
Adjective
-
After selling baklava at the Stock Show, the Unlus rented their first resraurant space in a small Eighth Avenue food hall.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
-
The Virgo moon asks you to focus on the small tasks.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
Wembanyama mired his fundamental greatness by either trying too hard to dominate or exerting his physicality in a petty way.—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
His girlfriend was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence and petty criminal mischief.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
The narrow win pushed Morocco into first place in Group C, all but securing a spot in the knockout rounds for the 2022 World Cup semifinalists.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
20 June 2026
-
Just outside downtown, this narrow stretch of former warehouses is now lined with markets, mom-and-pop shops and restaurants that spill onto the sidewalks all summer long.—
Gabby Sartori,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Jongno is protectively insular.—
Anton Hur,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
-
At times, Season 3 becomes too insular.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Some applicants reportedly relied on genealogy websites such as Ancestry or FamilySearch, while others submitted archival records rather than documents issued by provincial vital statistics offices or civil registries, CIC News reported.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
There’s been something sinister afoot in provincial France in recent years.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The risk in the Gulf is that the messaging surrounding police raids revives exclusionary language that governments have spent years trying to suppress, and that remains common in the sectarian politics of Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
-
Lebanon’s fractured system of government makes those fears of civil war or sectarian strife more potent.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Sandia Mountain, the aerial tramway to the peak, the fancy resort and casino, but don’t sleep on little Pueblo of Isleta south of town.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
For all of its massive successes, and for all of the fame, money, and love generated by this Broadway juggernaut, 125 years later the biggest lasting impact of Florodora is this spicy and fruity little cocktail, created for one particular girl in a particularly imperious mood.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Parochial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parochial. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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