as in parochial
not broad or open in views or opinions
an insular community that is not receptive of new ideas, especially from outsiders
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of insular
At the same time, foreigners like Will still struggle to find their footing in an insular community built around longstanding familial connections.
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Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 2024
This tale of faith and obsession, which was long-listed for the Booker Prize, follows a pair of friends from an insular Baptist community in Essex, England.
—The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
The trouble is director Brad Anderson and screenwriter Dan Hall fail to properly mine the protagonist’s distressing predicament for its maximum potential, particularly after he’s hunted by a crew of criminals, relegating him and his deaf companion to an insular location.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 10 Oct. 2024
The other big theme is how industries in intense insular fandoms, like gaming, often have deeply problematic workplace cultures that take root from the very beginning and refuse to let go.
—Nilay Patel, The Verge, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insular 
Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 2024
This tale of faith and obsession, which was long-listed for the Booker Prize, follows a pair of friends from an insular Baptist community in Essex, England.
—The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
The trouble is director Brad Anderson and screenwriter Dan Hall fail to properly mine the protagonist’s distressing predicament for its maximum potential, particularly after he’s hunted by a crew of criminals, relegating him and his deaf companion to an insular location.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 10 Oct. 2024
The other big theme is how industries in intense insular fandoms, like gaming, often have deeply problematic workplace cultures that take root from the very beginning and refuse to let go.
—Nilay Patel, The Verge, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insular
Adjective
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There are literally thousands of other Americans worldwide who have dedicated their lives in similar ways to causes that are more consequential than parochial nationalism.Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
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Slipknot have since gone multi-platinum, founded their own music festival, and stretched far beyond their parochial metal scene into persistent cultural relevance.Emma Madden, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Results were also mixed for a smaller sponsor, medical scrubs maker Figs, which sponsors the U.S. Olympic medical and training staff.Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 20 Nov. 2024
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But that cable business is only getting smaller, while streaming is starting to become profitable on its own.Tim Baysinger, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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There is a long tradition of petty smuggling in the region.Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
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Despite the emotional celebration, the Raptors’ Global Ambassador still had some petty energy to put into the air.Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Shutting down the Department of Education requires congressional approval and with Republicans holding a narrow majority in the Senate, Trump's bid faces a narrow path forward.Erin Doherty, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
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Blackhawks express desperation but don't show it in another narrow defeat What's ailing the Packers in the red zone?New York Times, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near insular
Cite this Entry
“Insular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insular. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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