sectarian 1 of 2

adjective

sek-ˈter-ē-ən How to pronounce sectarian (audio)
Definition of sectariannext
as in parochial
not broad or open in views or opinions there are people on both the left and the right who have staked out unyielding sectarian positions in this debate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sectarian

2 of 2

noun

as in partisan
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices charged that the work of Congress has been stymied by sectarians who are indifferent to reason and intolerant of compromise

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sectarian
Adjective
The initial proposal, debated since 2019, has exposed sectarian tensions among the country’s multitude of Islamic and Christian sects. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly has pushed back on suggestions that the agreement represents the creation of a new sectarian or military bloc, saying it is not connected to nuclear ambitions or an arms race. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
Quite the contrary, the image of the cross makes the war memorial sectarian. — Robert Barnes, Anchorage Daily News, 20 June 2019 Lebanon’s unique sectarian make up and place in the region make its politics about local issues like jobs, infrastructure, and garbage collection as well as about regional rivalries and alliances. — Ben Hubbard, BostonGlobe.com, 7 May 2018 See All Example Sentences for sectarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sectarian
  1. parochial
  2. partisan
  3. petty
  4. small
  5. narrow
Adjective
  • In some cases, opposition might amount to parochial not in my backyard — or NIMBY — concerns.
    — Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Several residents who spoke at the meetings characterized the opposition as a vocal minority of residents who have fixated on a few mostly parochial issues.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of parochial
Noun
  • Harald paid tribute to the Norwegian partisans who had fought alongside the Soviets during World War II, helping to restore the memory of a segment of the population that had long been marginalized in the official narrative of the war.
    — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This week’s Pollwatcher answers a reader’s question about how polls select respondents and highlights how partisans in one state have flipped on a Democratic senator.
    — Scott Clement, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of partisan
Adjective
  • Trump will depart sooner or later, the banners will be torn down and much of his petty talk will be and should be forgotten.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The players air their grievances, which are essentially a pile of petty conflicts and resentments that, as Alice warned, can be traced back to the team fracturing into cliques.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of petty
Adjective
  • That’s a dangerous prospect for any country, but especially for Singapore, crammed into a space smaller than New York City.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • But after home brewers were able to show the appeal of hoppy IPAs, malty stouts and citrusy wheat ales, that eventually led to a boom in small breweries.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • Burner accounts from China and Russia And those partnership ads are channeled through a narrow group of creators, ORL says.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Just like their simulated counterparts, the worms consistently moved through the narrower channels faster than the wider ones.
    — K. R. Prathyusha, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of narrow

Browse Nearby Words

sect
sectarian
sectarianism
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Cite this Entry

“Sectarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sectarian. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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