as in small
not broad or open in views or opinions
the parochial pastimes of the people in that rural farm town
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Recent Examples of parochial
Investors might want to be less parochial just as political policy becomes increasingly so.
—
Ron Insana, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Driven together by anti-Western grievance and their own parochial interests, China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia are creating substantial authoritarian scale.
—Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2025
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
There is nothing more parochial or bland than being a soft, white Anglican kid from Ottawa.
—Graydon Carter, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parochial
Ron Insana, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Driven together by anti-Western grievance and their own parochial interests, China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia are creating substantial authoritarian scale.
—Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2025
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
There is nothing more parochial or bland than being a soft, white Anglican kid from Ottawa.
—Graydon Carter, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parochial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parochial
Adjective
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Yes, Georgia and Paul split this season as the blowback from the trial — and Paul's support of Proposition 38, disastrous for small businesses — imperiled his mayoral career.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
7 June 2025
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Farmers watered their crops less, and saw smaller harvests as a result.—
Annika Merrilees,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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The lives of these accomplished, seemingly independent women revolve around men, petty antics and low-stakes squabbles.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 May 2025
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But the most powerful response isn’t rage or petty retaliation.—
Suneeta Motala,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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For decades, international philanthropy has framed Africa through a narrow lens: a continent in need, a landscape of poverty, disaster and helplessness.—
Victoria Philips,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Beach replenishment also is planned, but the narrow right-of-way through San Clemente includes no room for a second set of tracks.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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But the Islanders, at another unique if less delicate intersection in franchise history, needed a fresh and collaborative perspective — especially after spending the first quarter of this century as the most insular team in the league.—
Jerry Beach,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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According to the study, many insular or island duck species had reduced flying abilities.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Most of the smoke reaching the American Midwest has been coming from fires northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg in Manitoba.—
Steve Karnowski,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2025
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Segovia, a romantic hilltop city in the country’s largest region, Castilla y León has the Antonio Machado House-Museum, a prime example of early 1900s provincial Castillian living, named after the Spanish poet who lived there.—
Jessica Benavides Canepa,
AFAR Media,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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While many in Northern Ireland are sympathetic to the Palestinians, the local sectarian history has led others to staunchly support of Israel, as well.—
Rosario Del Valle,
Sun Sentinel,
3 June 2025
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As a result, the sectarian world is going up in flames.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The real Reubens, who died of cancer at 70 in 2023, bore little resemblance to either of these caricatures.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 May 2025
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This is incredibly damaging to career prospects and, given how little knowledge exists in mainstream medical and occupational health circles, can feel confusing and frightening for those who don’t know where to turn for advice.—
Nancy Doyle,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Parochial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parochial. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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