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Synonyms

cliquish

American  
[klee-kish, klik-ish] / ˈkli kɪʃ, ˈklɪk ɪʃ /

adjective

  1. associating exclusively with the members of one's own clique; clannish.

  2. tending to divide into cliques.

    a cliquish neighborhood.

  3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a clique.

    narrow, cliquish notions about art.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of cliquish

First recorded in 1850–55; clique + -ish 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They claim accountant-verified objectivity but often appear cliquish and stuck in industry bubbles.

From New York Times • Nov. 10, 2023

The interactions among these writers, artists, scholars and sensual adventurers made for a cauldron of contradictions — loving and heartbreaking, productive and chaotic, gossipy and protective, open-minded and cliquish.

From Washington Post • Dec. 1, 2022

The agreement typified another problem in Food: a cliquish culture.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 21, 2020

In 2015, after a number of departures, Fortune published an article in which former employees complained about a cliquish, “mean girls” corporate culture.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 15, 2018

He spoke of "society" being mixed in the neighbourhood and of the difficulty of getting people to work together, and "do" things; they were cliquish.

From Kipps The Story of a Simple Soul by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

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