as in parochial
not broad or open in views or opinions
there are people on both the left and the right who have staked out unyielding sectarian positions in this debate
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in partisan
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices
charged that the work of Congress has been stymied by sectarians who are indifferent to reason and intolerant of compromise
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sectarian
Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 14 Mar. 2025
For half a century, Hafez al-Assad and his son, Bashar, ruled Syria ruthlessly, enduring wars, rebellions, and uprisings while stoking sectarian fears to deter calls for change.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Robert Barnes, Anchorage Daily News, 20 June 2019
Lebanon’s unique sectarian make up and place in the region make its politics about local issues like jobs, infrastructure, and garbage collection as well as about regional rivalries and alliances.
—Ben Hubbard, BostonGlobe.com, 7 May 2018
See All Example Sentences for sectarian
Adjective
Pakistan's military is currently engaged in an ongoing operation in Kurram, an area that has witnessed years of sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslim communities.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 14 Mar. 2025
For half a century, Hafez al-Assad and his son, Bashar, ruled Syria ruthlessly, enduring wars, rebellions, and uprisings while stoking sectarian fears to deter calls for change.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
Quite the contrary, the image of the cross makes the war memorial sectarian.
—Robert Barnes, Anchorage Daily News, 20 June 2019
Lebanon’s unique sectarian make up and place in the region make its politics about local issues like jobs, infrastructure, and garbage collection as well as about regional rivalries and alliances.
—Ben Hubbard, BostonGlobe.com, 7 May 2018
See All Example Sentences for sectarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sectarian
Adjective
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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
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At this point, any family that wants their child to attend a private school is now able to get more than $8,000 per year to pay private or parochial tuition.—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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These partisans, of course, will oppose commutation – but Polis still should grant it.—
Mike Davis,
The Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2025
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While partisans have made up their minds about Trump, independents may be taking a wait-and-see attitude.—
Susan Page,
USA TODAY,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Mixed in with small pleasures and petty disputes with her older sister are true feats of survival and bravery.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
22 Mar. 2025
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Gangs stop petty thievery in their own neighborhoods.—
Walter E Block,
Orange County Register,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Liberals' smallest lead was in a poll conducted by Innovative Research among 1,548 Canadian citizens, which showed the party with a lead of just 2 points, on 36 percent to the Conservatives' 34 percent—a lead within the poll's 3 percent margin of error.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
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Retail trade, which includes small and large clothing stores, lost 6,700 jobs, around 5,500 of which were not in department stores.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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With this victory, Democrats maintain a narrow majority of 102-101 in the state House.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
-
When this happens in the solar system, giving Earth the narrowest glimpse of the rings, it’s known as a ring plane crossing.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sectarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sectarian. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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