Standard Lemma guide

narrow-mindedness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of being narrow-minded.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an inclination to criticize opposing opinions or shocking behavior

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: narrowness

Antonyms: broad-mindedness

Broader terms: intolerance

Narrower terms: parochialism, pettiness, provincialism, sectarianism, denominationalism

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English narrow-minded Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English narrow-mindedness From narrow-minded + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: ограниченост (ograničenost) — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Dutch: bekrompenheid — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Estonian: piiratus — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Finnish: ahdasmielisyys — the state of being narrow-minded
  • French: étroitesse d'esprit — the state of being narrow-minded
  • German: Engstirnigkeit — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Eastern Mari: мещанстве (meŝanstve) — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Norwegian: bornerthet — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Norwegian: trangsynthet — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Polish: zamkniętość — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Portuguese: tacanhez — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Portuguese: tacanhice — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Portuguese: estreiteza — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Russian: узколо́бость (uzkolóbostʹ) — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Russian: ограни́ченность (ograníčennostʹ) — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Russian: у́зость (úzostʹ) — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Spanish: estrechez de miras — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Spanish: estrechez de espíritu — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Spanish: mezquindad — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Spanish: angostura — the state of being narrow-minded
  • Spanish: cerrazón — the state of being narrow-minded