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.
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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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McCabe Pub McCabe Pub remained a local destination for comfort food, cold beers and friendly service for over 40 years before shutting down in January 2024.Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 30 Dec. 2024
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But the country’s new leaders will also have to look outward, balancing the tangled, sometimes contradictory interests of many foreign powers — some friendly, some hostile, some wary.Josh Holder, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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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
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Tension seems to be rising as presidential candidates trade jabs as Election Day nears, but in the small and close-knit Downriver city of Gibraltar, residents are focused on a different political fight, one that isn’t on the ballot.Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Tina’s situation is a familiar one for many small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners.Lechi (Richard) Zhang, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
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This northside Japanese steakhouse serves familiar Japanese and Japanese-American dishes like tempura, katsu, hot pot, sushi and hibachi dishes.Bradley Hohulin, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near clannish
Cite this Entry
“Clannish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clannish. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
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