Narrow-minded - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT narrow-minded /ˌˈnɛroʊ ˌˈmaɪndɪd/ /ˈnærəʊmaɪndɪd/ IPA guide

When someone's narrow-minded, they're intolerant of other people's opinions and experiences. There's no convincing your narrow-minded uncle that Indian cuisine is delicious — he stubbornly insists that only "American" food tastes good.

Being narrow-minded means that you've got a rigid and ungenerous perspective on the world. It's narrow-minded to believe that everyone who disagrees with you is wrong. A narrow-minded person can see only their own tiny slice of the world and doesn't attempt to learn about and understand other people's experiences. Prejudiced and biased people are also narrow-minded: "The narrow-minded opponents of integrated schools were on the wrong side of history."

Definitions of narrow-minded

adjective lacking tolerance or flexibility or breadth of view synonyms: blinkered, narrow close-minded, closed-minded not ready to receive to new ideas dogmatic, dogmatical characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles illiberal, intolerant narrow-minded about cherished opinions opinionated, opinionative, self-opinionated obstinate in your opinions petty, small-minded contemptibly narrow in outlook narrow not wide see moresee less antonyms: broad-minded inclined to respect views and beliefs that differ from your own broad, large-minded, liberal, tolerant showing or characterized by broad-mindedness catholic comprehensive or broad-minded in tastes or interests; free from provincial prejudices or attachments free-thinking, latitudinarian, undogmatic, undogmatical unwilling to accept authority or dogma (especially in religion) open-minded ready to entertain new ideas show more antonyms...
adjective rigidly adhering to a particular sect or its doctrines synonyms: sectarian belonging to or characteristic of a sect
adjective capable of being shocked synonyms: shockable

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘narrow-minded'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing narrow-minded

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In this novel in verse, a girl befriends a stray dog while quarantining with her grandparents on a Wabanaki reservation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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