narrow-minded

adjective

ˈner-(ˌ)ō-ˈmīn-dəd How to pronounce narrow-minded (audio)
Definition of narrow-mindednext
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 This wicker man becomes a devoted partner, sparking jealousy and malice in her narrow-minded neighbors, exploring themes of love, cruelty, and societal conformity. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026 However, such an observation is short-sighted and narrow-minded. — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 14 Jan. 2026 Anyone proposing to offer a master class on changing the world for the better, without becoming negative, cynical, angry or narrow-minded in the process, could model their advice on the life and work of pioneering animal behavior scholar Jane Goodall. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025 Knowledge-wise, science may be advancing, but, politically, its powers of persuasion are in retreat, in a moment defined, in many ways, by ignorance and narrow-minded grievance. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for narrow-minded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrow-minded
  1. narrow
  2. parochial
  3. bigoted
  4. small
  5. provincial
  6. petty
  7. intolerant
  8. insular
Adjective
  • Those qualities are attractive, but concentrating exclusively on them directs many investors toward the same narrow set of service companies.
    — Chris Russo, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The winning architecture is a stack of narrow intelligences pointed at what each one is good at, coordinated through a harness that knows which one to use when.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Cooke’s more convincing charge is that Deletionism has kept Wikipedia parochial.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
  • For Bourne, newspapers, besides giving information, encourage an acceptance of non-parochial views.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of parochial
Adjective
  • The killing, often deliberate, of more than twenty thousand children in Gaza injured consciences, not purses, and consciences could be managed with some ritual censuring of Benjamin Netanyahu or his proudly bigoted colleagues.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Over the five hours that follow, the series tracks what led to the tragedy — specifically, his complicated relationship with his resentful, bigoted next-door neighbor, Clive (David Morrissey).
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of bigoted
Adjective
  • Manfred says small-market success is rare, while the union argues the Rays-Brewers World Series matchup shows baseball can work without a cap.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Massachusetts ranks third for the annual cost of raising a small child but 18th over 18 years.
    — Martie Bowser, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • In the Conference League, high-scoring Brighton is at Czech provincial side Jablonec.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The same went for the large bookshops in many provincial towns.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of provincial
Adjective
  • The debut show from the pact, about the disappearance of Spanish petty criminal El Nani, remains in development, Corral confirmed.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Before the arrival of the Sisters of Mary Morning Star, the death row inmates had been plagued by petty infighting.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of petty
Adjective
  • Law student Gemma Jay (Abbie Hern), recruited by the nonsense-intolerant Coach Alice Chilton (Tanya Reynolds), also joins the squad.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The association naturally angered the intolerant left, including one X user whose response has since gone viral.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of intolerant
Adjective
  • Music scenes were insular; tapes were copied by hand and passed between friends and family.
    — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Without that practice, both campus and life can become more insular and sterile.
    — Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of insular

Browse Nearby Words

narrowly
narrow-minded
narrow-mindedness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Narrow-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrow-minded. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shindig

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All