SECTARIAN Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

sectarian 1 of 2

adjective

sek-ˈter-ē-ən

Definition of sectarian

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sectarian

2 of 2

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

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 sectarian

Adjective

After conquering a country in ruins and containing sectarian strife, Syria’s postrevolutionary government is facing its most serious crisis yet – at the pumps. — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Sep. 2026 The sectarian violence rocked Northern Ireland for almost 30 years, pitting Catholics against Protestants, mostly over questions of British rule. — Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

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

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

Noun

But the clean provenance and their New York highlife has never appeased Pooh partisans who think Fifth Avenue is much too far from the Hundred Acre Wood.

— STEVE HENDRIX THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Overwhelming shares of partisans support their party’s candidates – 98% of Democratic likely voters and 96% of Republican likely voters each support their party candidates.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of partisan

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

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

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

Browse Nearby Words

sect

sectarian

sectarianism

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sectarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sectarian. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sectarian

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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?

Popular in Wordplay

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

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes