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.
—
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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Sometimes, teams do travel for friendly, non-streamed matches against their rivals, too.—
Issy van der Velde,
Rolling Stone,
4 Feb. 2025
-
When the bride steps away, other women can seize the moment to give the groom a friendly peck.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Leading this loud and lovingly close-knit multigenerational family is Suga Mama (Jo Marie Payton), the feisty grandma and matriarch.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
15 Jan. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Work is underway to bridge funding gaps by pulling together pots of money in a way that will be all too familiar to indie filmmakers.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
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For now, utilities are likely planning to use some fossil fuels to meet short-term demand, because these facilities are more familiar and much quicker to integrate into the grid than renewable sources, Larsen told me.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near clannish
Cite this Entry
“Clannish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clannish. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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