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

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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 Debbie Duncan, director of talent acquisition at Northwestern Mutual, says one of the biggest mistakes new graduates can make is being narrow-minded with their job search. — Courtney Connley-Hampton, Forbes.com, 19 May 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 However, curiosity can interrupt that narrow-minded thinking, according to Maya Nehru, MA, LMFT, a psychotherapist offering services in anxiety and trauma in San Diego and Washington. — Jenna Ryu, SELF, 25 Mar. 2026 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
  • Its designs were suited to its urban New England market — three stories high with a narrow footprint.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Sheer rock walls loom on one side, while the other, which is largely unguarded, plunges to the narrow canyon below.
    — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Many children in Florida attending private, parochial or homeschool programs do not take the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, or FAST, test, which is used by Florida’s public school districts to measure students’ achievement.
    — Kendall Deas, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • They are hired hands and stewards of other people’s capital, with no desire to becoming embroiled in internecine squabbles between clashing advocates, parochial activists, and plain opportunists latching on to the moment.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026
Definition of parochial
Adjective
  • Others warned that Emmer’s comments and the growing animosity towards Somali- and Muslim-American communities marked a regression to a more bigoted era in the United States.
    — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
  • That means that, every once in a while, when someone is saying bigoted things or acting aggressively around other customers, they get kicked out.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 June 2026
Definition of bigoted
Adjective
  • In contrast, instruments on the FireSat satellites will be able to detect small brush and roadside fires 16 feet across.
    — Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • At the Cannes Film Festival in May, the model Toni Garrn made a striking appearance in a blue-black bustier dress embroidered with small petals.
    — Amy Verner, Vogue, 6 July 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • Hualde says that some Pamplona residents rue his early promotion of the festival due to the ills of overtourism the sleepy provincial city is now experiencing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • Burgos Famed for its medieval architecture, this provincial capital will be busy for the eclipse, but pay close attention to sight lines.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of provincial
Adjective
  • The killing has drawn comparisons to other instances of other Black people who lost their life in cases of accusations of petty criminal offenses, such as the murder of George Floyd.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • Some were petty — like Reese committing a foul against Clark, then jerking her head back, impersonating Clark as a flopper.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 June 2026
Definition of petty
Adjective
  • Most aphids are heat-intolerant and will disappear by midsummer.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2026
  • Americans may have become too intolerant of heat, but this is patently ridiculous.
    — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Definition of intolerant
Adjective
  • Once, in anthropology class, my professor lectured on an insular island tribe that cackled whenever someone got hurt.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • Of course, Hollywood is always going to gravitate more toward America’s insular sporting worlds.
    — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of insular

Browse Nearby Words

narrowly
narrow-minded
narrow-mindedness
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Cite this Entry

“Narrow-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrow-minded. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on narrow-minded

Nglish: Translation of narrow-minded for Spanish Speakers

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