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
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Recent Examples of sectarian
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Apr. 2025
Some factions allied with the new government launched sectarian revenge attacks -- primarily targeting Assad's Alawite minority sect -- that monitoring groups say killed hundreds of civilians over several days.
—arkansasonline.com, 18 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
Unfolding against the backdrop of the traumatic 1947 partition of India and Pakistan, the film follows a young Hindu woman caught between two Muslim suitors as religious tensions erupt into devastating sectarian violence.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Apr. 2025
Some factions allied with the new government launched sectarian revenge attacks -- primarily targeting Assad's Alawite minority sect -- that monitoring groups say killed hundreds of civilians over several days.
—arkansasonline.com, 18 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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The plum political prize, of course, will be deciding how congressional districts are drawn, perhaps giving this parochial court a major say in which party—and its preferred Speaker—gets to run the U.S. House.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
31 Mar. 2025
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There is nothing more parochial or bland than being a soft, white Anglican kid from Ottawa.—
Graydon Carter,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The case has become a classic watercooler smash in both the real world, where pro- and anti-Read protesters clashed outside the courthouse, and on social media where partisans skirmish seemingly without end.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
26 Mar. 2025
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It is well established that partisans of the winning side in a presidential election become more optimistic about the direction of the economy, and those of the losing side more pessimistic.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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In 2022, a consortium of private retirement-plan providers announced a collaboration to boost the portability of small retirement accounts.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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The space consists of two levels—one for dancing and one for dining at small cocktail tables.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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On Saturday, the narrow field caused both teams to adapt to tighter spaces and quicker play.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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In February, Trump had a narrow net approval rating of plus 0.6 points.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sectarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sectarian. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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