sec·tar·i·an
sek-ˈter-ē-ən 
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect or sectarian
2
: limited in character or scope : parochial
1
: an adherent of a sect
2
: a narrow or bigoted person
Synonyms
Examples of sectarian in a Sentence
Adjective
The country was split along sectarian lines.
there are people on both the left and the right who have staked out unyielding sectarian positions in this debate
Noun
charged that the work of Congress has been stymied by sectarians who are indifferent to reason and intolerant of compromise
Recent Examples on the Web
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Many people are traumatized or in mourning; others talk manically about dethroning Hezbollah, and perhaps with it, Lebanon’s centuries-old system of sectarian power-sharing.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024
Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2015
Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians.
—Joshua Alston, Variety, 12 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for sectarian 
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.
Adjective
Since the end of the civil war in 1991 and the withdrawal of Syrian forces in 2005, Lebanon's sectarian politics have largely been divided into two blocs, one supportive of Assad and the other opposed to him.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Many people are traumatized or in mourning; others talk manically about dethroning Hezbollah, and perhaps with it, Lebanon’s centuries-old system of sectarian power-sharing.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
People want to get rid of religious parties, people want to put sectarians behind to build an Iraq for all Iraqis.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2015
Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians.
—Joshua Alston, Variety, 12 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for sectarian
Dictionary Entries Near sectarian
Cite this Entry
“Sectarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sectarian. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sectarian
1 of 2 adjective
sec·tar·i·an
sek-ˈter-ē-ən
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect or sectarian
2
: not willing to consider other points of view
a sectarian mind
sectarian
2 of 2 noun1
: a member of a sect
2
: a person who won't consider the ideas or opinions of others
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share