small-minded
adjective
small-mind·ed
ˈsmȯl-ˈmīn-dəd 
1
: having narrow interests, sympathies, or outlook
2
: typical of a small-minded person : marked by pettiness, narrowness, or meanness
small-minded conduct
small-mindedly
adverb
small-mindedness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of small-minded in a Sentence
a small-minded man only concerned with his own well-being
resented the small-minded people who automatically opposed every new idea
Recent Examples on the Web
The film, based on Alice Hoffman’s 1995 novel of the same name, centers on the sisters contending with their small-minded small town as well as a curse on the women of their bloodline, whose male partners are doomed to die prematurely.
—
Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 14 June 2024
Trump represents a slice of the American psyche — that racist, small-minded, xenophobic mentality.
—Garret K. Woodward, SPIN, 3 Feb. 2024
As in some of his memorable film roles, De Niro confused small-minded egotism with principle.
—Armond White, National Review, 6 Dec. 2023
Pence called that small-minded, saying the United States can do both.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 24 Aug. 2023
There’s also been some racist messaging, casual misogyny, and, most recently, a song and music video that are, at best, small-minded and, at worst, racist.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2023
That makes the film a droll, distancing experience that can come off as faintly condescending in its view of the religious impulse as inherently petty and hypocritical, the last refuge of small-minded folk who cleave to the symbols and rituals of faith but reject their actual meaning.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 8 July 2023
The narrative unfolds communally around a table, with plenty of backtracking, retconning, and joking—and avoiding the small-minded hobgoblins of consistency and rules-lawyering.
—Ethan Gilsdorf, WIRED, 27 June 2023
These small-minded individuals have made an example of Target, and Target buckled their knees.
—Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 14 June 2024
Trump represents a slice of the American psyche — that racist, small-minded, xenophobic mentality.
—Garret K. Woodward, SPIN, 3 Feb. 2024
As in some of his memorable film roles, De Niro confused small-minded egotism with principle.
—Armond White, National Review, 6 Dec. 2023
Pence called that small-minded, saying the United States can do both.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 24 Aug. 2023
There’s also been some racist messaging, casual misogyny, and, most recently, a song and music video that are, at best, small-minded and, at worst, racist.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2023
That makes the film a droll, distancing experience that can come off as faintly condescending in its view of the religious impulse as inherently petty and hypocritical, the last refuge of small-minded folk who cleave to the symbols and rituals of faith but reject their actual meaning.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 8 July 2023
The narrative unfolds communally around a table, with plenty of backtracking, retconning, and joking—and avoiding the small-minded hobgoblins of consistency and rules-lawyering.
—Ethan Gilsdorf, WIRED, 27 June 2023
These small-minded individuals have made an example of Target, and Target buckled their knees.
—Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'small-minded.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Small-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small-minded. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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