parochial

adjective

pə-ˈrō-kē-əl How to pronounce parochial (audio)
Definition of parochialnext
as in small
not broad or open in views or opinions the parochial pastimes of the people in that rural farm town

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 parochial Back then the age of discovery was at its peak, and startling new information about what had previously been a very parochial planet was flooding into the academies of Europe and the Americas. — Ian Tattersall, The New York Review of Books, 19 Sep. 2026 Among the bureaucratic, parochial, pastoral and familial spaces his work takes his clients, a reflection on roots, gentrification and the act of remaining emerges. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 In some cases, opposition might amount to parochial not in my backyard — or NIMBY — concerns. — Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026 Several residents who spoke at the meetings characterized the opposition as a vocal minority of residents who have fixated on a few mostly parochial issues. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for parochial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parochial
  1. small
  2. petty
  3. narrow
  4. insular
  5. provincial
  6. sectarian
  7. little
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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
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
  • In 1976, the Syrian military intervened during Lebanon’s civil war to put an end to sectarian violence.
    — Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Carson draws parallels between the familial traumas of those who remain and the broader societal wounds of a province still healing from decades of sectarian violence.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of sectarian
Adjective
  • Here's where the high diesel prices add up tough – what little hay there is, is a lot more expensive to harvest.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The prince didn’t have any luck in blocking Kelce, which comes as little surprise given the Chiefs star knows how to avoid defensive players.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of little

Browse Nearby Words

parlous
parochial
parochialism
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Cite this Entry

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

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