as in cliquish
bound together by feelings of very close association
a clannish family that can be rather cool to outsiders
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Recent Examples of clannish
There are a broad spectrum of other possible explanations for the disparate outcomes Boegeman cites, including religious differences, geographic differences, even — gasp — the clannish propensity of ethnic groups to band together and create — or retain — their unique cultural traditions.
—
Star Tribune, 19 July 2021
The Trumps are nothing if not clannish.
—Hari Kunzru, The New York Review of Books, 2 July 2020
As each story revolves around the perils and power of racial or clannish identity, their sequels would naturally call for advances in inclusion of all kinds.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022
And yet to visit Derry’s neighborhoods is to find a strange mix of clannish loyalty and civic open-mindedness.
—New York Times, 3 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for clannish
Star Tribune, 19 July 2021
The Trumps are nothing if not clannish.
—Hari Kunzru, The New York Review of Books, 2 July 2020
As each story revolves around the perils and power of racial or clannish identity, their sequels would naturally call for advances in inclusion of all kinds.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022
And yet to visit Derry’s neighborhoods is to find a strange mix of clannish loyalty and civic open-mindedness.
—New York Times, 3 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for clannish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clannish
Adjective
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The island is also home to a wide selection of family friendly all-inclusive resorts, including the luxury all-inclusive Barceló Aruba.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2025
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The 20-year-old was called up to the Trinidad & Tobago national team in December for a friendly against Saudi Arabia.—
Braidon Nourse,
The Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Leading this loud and lovingly close-knit multigenerational family is Suga Mama (Jo Marie Payton), the feisty grandma and matriarch.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
15 Jan. 2025
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In her new Prime Video documentary Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words, Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion shares a close-knit look at her public triumphs and personal struggles behind the limelight.—
Sughnen Yongo,
Forbes,
31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The idea is both familiar and transformative: public fridges, placed in neighborhoods, stocked by the people, for the people—no questions asked.—
The Glamour editors,
Glamour,
8 Mar. 2025
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Whatever the club’s reasoning, there was something familiar and troubling about this disappointing deadline paralysis.—
Thomas Drance,
The Athletic,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clannish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clannish. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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