small-minded
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of small-minded
First recorded in 1840–50
Explanation
Someone who's small-minded has a narrow perspective or very firm, unchangeable opinions on things. It's almost impossible to get a small-minded voter to change his or her mind. If you're small-minded, you have a biased view of the world, and you're probably not very tolerant of those with different opinions or experiences. It's as if small-minded people can't step outside their own perspective to empathize with others. A small-minded governor might want to keep all immigrants out of his state, and someone with a small-minded focus on money won't understand your dream of being a poet.
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.
When he is stymied, as tends to happen, he seeks the advice of his captive, a sharper man than any of the small-minded, superstitious figures on his council.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
It’s a small-minded and petty ploy, but it’s a dangerous one.
From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2025
So it was like, you gotta get out because St. Louis is so small-minded.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2024
Speaking ahead of his appearance, he said he wanted to show people he was not "mean-spirited, small-minded, nasty".
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2023
I counted on her small-minded interference in the day-to-day running of the school to keep attention diverted elsewhere, while I searched for the information I needed.”
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
