small-minded

[ smawl-mahyn-did ]

/ ˈsmɔlˈmaɪn dɪd /

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See synonyms for: small-minded / smallmindedness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

selfish, petty, or narrow-minded.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of small-minded

First recorded in 1840–50

OTHER WORDS FROM small-minded

small-mind·ed·ly, adverbsmall-mind·ed·ness, noun

Words nearby small-minded

small holding, small hours, small intestine, smallish, small letter, small-minded, smallmouth bass, small pica, small potatoes, smallpox, small print

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use small-minded in a sentence

The man who explored universes in his works was ridiculously small-minded.
Borges Had A Genius For Literature But Not Love Or Much Else|Allen Barra|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Never small-minded, the worst I ever heard him say of anybody was that he (or she) was “boring.”
The Private David Frost|John M. Florescu|September 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It is the most small-minded interpretation of "journalism" there is.
Let's Chill Out on the First Person, Journalists|Justin Green|January 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
This is, inarguably, a small-minded and small-hearted way to look at things, even by the usual silly standards for sports fans.
Derek Jeter Down: Don’t Hate the Player, Hate the Yankees|David Roth|October 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST

But if pointed barbs from small-minded conservative commentators are what it takes to spur the country into action, then so be it.
After Trayvon, Conservatives Discover Black-on-Black Violence|Mansfield Frazier|April 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Petrarch was not small-minded, as the noble letter in which he offers to buy his friend's library proves.
Giovanni Boccaccio, a Biographical Study|Edward Hutton
Her obstinate conduct towards the Fitzclarences is small-minded of her, and to explain it she affects a ridiculous prudery.
Memoirs of the Duchesse de Dino v.1/3, 1831-1835|Dorothy Duchesse de Dino
The hotel manager was a small-minded man with a narrow-minded outlook and a brain that was almost totally unable to learn.
Thin Edge|Gordon Randall Garrett
He refused and felt so small-minded at using his authority against a child that it was a relief to vent his ill-humour on a man.
Lady Lilith|Stephen McKenna
The modern, small-minded ascetic endeavours to grow spiritually by destroying his physical instincts instead of by using them.
Married Love|Marie Carmichael Stopes

British Dictionary definitions for small-minded

small-minded

adjective

narrow-minded; petty; intolerant; mean

Derived forms of small-minded

small-mindedly, adverbsmall-mindedness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

small-minded

Origin of small-minded

OTHER WORDS FROM small-minded

Words nearby small-minded

Words related to small-minded

How to use small-minded in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for small-minded

Derived forms of small-minded