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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
He was arrested in Lebanon last year and sentenced by a military court to three months’ imprisonment for offenses including incitement to religious and sectarian conflict. — Geir Moulson, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 An intervention would risk shattering Lebanon, igniting sectarian strife, and further destabilizing the entire region, potentially undermining Sharaa's government. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 25 July 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
  • 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
  • All but one, Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, were either parochial or had some religious affiliation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 July 2026
Definition of parochial
Noun
  • This is what happens when the federal government becomes the plaything of a petty partisan gone mad.
    — Max Taves, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Such traits help elevate interactions with the natural world – and might do the same among neighbors, colleagues, and even political partisans.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of partisan
Adjective
  • And yet the office—its smells and politics, its grievances petty, existential, or edifying—must have made an impression.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Look no further for a wake up call than these three actors representing House Hightower, powerful and imposing in their own right, but just as catty and petty as the Lannisters at the end of the day.
    — Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of petty
Adjective
  • The merch was originally made for OpenAI employees to purchase on an internal site, but the team decided to make a small capsule collection available to the public.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Rival online retailers Ozon and Yandex Market use smaller depots spread over a wider network.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • Enclosed by a network of 13th-century walls, the narrow streets of old York host myriad awe-inspiring relics from its pre-industrial past, perhaps the most famous being York Minster, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals anywhere.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The noun developed later for something removed or separated—hence a narrow strip of land, cloth, or material.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 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 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sectarian

Nglish: Translation of sectarian for Spanish Speakers

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