Sectarian means resulting from the differences between different religions.
He was the fifth person to be killed in sectarian violence.
The police said the murder was sectarian.
...both sides of the sectarian divide.
Synonyms: narrow-minded, partisan, fanatic, fanatical More Synonyms of sectarian
More Synonyms of sectarian
sectarian in British English
(sɛkˈtɛərɪən)
adjective
1.
of, belonging or relating to, or characteristic of sects or sectaries
2.
adhering to a particular sect, faction, or doctrine
3.
narrow-minded, esp as a result of rigid adherence to a particular sect
noun
4.
a member of a sect or faction, esp one who is bigoted in adhering to its doctrinesor is intolerant towards other sects, etc
Derived forms
sectarianism (secˈtarianˌism)
noun
sectarian in American English
(sɛkˈtɛriən)
adjective
1.
of or characteristic of a sect
2.
devoted to, or prejudiced in favor of, some sect
3.
narrow-minded; limited; parochial
noun
4. Obsolete
an apostate from an established church
5.
a member of any religious sect
6.
a person who is blindly and narrow-mindedly devoted to a sect
Derived forms
sectarianism (secˈtarianˌism)
noun
sectarianize (secˈtarianˌize) (sɛkˈtɛriənˌaɪz)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: secˈtarianˌized or secˈtarianˌizing
Word origin
< sectary + -an
Examples of 'sectarian' in a sentence
sectarian
They were deployed to protect civilians from marauding paramilitary forces on both sides of the sectarian divide.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They have forgotten how religious ideals can play a crucial role in solving sectarian violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The key is the interaction within these generations of those on either side of the sectarian divide.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
The contest sparked sectarian violence across the country.
Christianity Today (2000)
Other members of the crowd appealed for reforms that could appeal across the sectarian divide.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But suspicions were not confined to one side of the sectarian divide.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Yes, hundreds of thousands died in the war itself and in the sectarian bloodbath that followed.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Many of the 12,000 workforce fled to avoid the sectarian bloodbath.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Engagement with it can only help the West and western values in a region on the verge of a sectarian bloodbath.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Unlike some ethnic groups, they have refrained from importing the kind of issues which have led to sectarian or civil strife in their history or homeland.
Stewart Lamont WHEN SCOTLAND RULED THE WORLD: The Story of the Golden Age of Genius, Creativityand Exploration (2002)
F1 faces the trip next week to the troubled island kingdom, with its riots and sectarian fighting, with trepidation.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
sectarian
British English: sectarian ADJECTIVE
Sectarian means resulting from the differences between different religions.
Sectarian tensions in the area are at an all-time high.
American English: sectarian
Brazilian Portuguese: sectário
Chinese: 派系的
European Spanish: sectario
French: sectaire
German: konfessionell
Italian: settario
Japanese: 分派の
Korean: 종파의
European Portuguese: sectário
Latin American Spanish: sectario
(adjective)
Definition
narrow-minded as a result of supporting a particular sect
sectarian religious groups
Synonyms
narrow-minded
He's just a narrow-minded bigot.
partisan
He is too partisan to be a referee.
fanatic
fanatical
extremist
limited
exclusive
He is a member of Britain's most exclusive club.
rigid
Hospital routines for nurses are very rigid.
parochial
the stuffy and parochial atmosphere of a small village
factional
factional disputes between the various groups
bigoted
He was bigoted and racist.
dogmatic
insular
The old image of the insular Brit is slowly starting to change.
doctrinaire
forty-five years of doctrinaire Stalinism
hidebound
The men are hidebound and reactionary.
clannish
People can be clannish and cruel in their exclusion of others who are `different'.
cliquish
Opposites
liberal
,
tolerant
,
open-minded
,
catholic
,
free-thinking
,
broad-minded
,
non-sectarian
,
unprejudiced
,
unbigoted
(noun)
Definition
a member of a sect
He remains a sectarian.
Synonyms
bigot
a narrow-minded bigot with pretensions to power
extremist
It is believed to be the work of left-wing extremists.
partisan
At first the young poet was a partisan of the Revolution.
disciple
a major intellectual figure with disciples throughout Europe
fanatic
I am not a religious fanatic but I am a Christian.
adherent
Communism was gaining adherents in Latin America.
zealot
He was forceful but by no means a zealot.
true believer
dogmatist
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adherent
Definition
a supporter or follower
Communism was gaining adherents in Latin America.
Synonyms
supporter,
fan,
advocate,
follower,
admirer,
partisan,
disciple,
protagonist,
devotee,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
hanger-on,
upholder,
sectary,
votary
in the sense of bigoted
He was bigoted and racist.
Synonyms
intolerant,
twisted,
racist,
prejudiced,
biased,
warped,
sectarian,
dogmatic,
opinionated,
narrow-minded,
obstinate,
xenophobic,
chauvinistic,
small-minded,
illiberal,
uncharitable,
racialist
in the sense of clannish
Definition
(of a group) tending to exclude outsiders
People can be clannish and cruel in their exclusion of others who are `different'.
Synonyms
cliquish,
select,
narrow,
exclusive,
sectarian,
unfriendly,
insular
Nearby words of
sectarian
secretive
secretly
sect
sectarian
section
sectional
sector
Synonyms of 'sectarian'
sectarian
Explore 'sectarian' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disciple
Definition
a follower of the doctrines of a teacher
a major intellectual figure with disciples throughout Europe
Synonyms
follower,
student,
supporter,
pupil,
convert,
believer,
partisan,
devotee,
apostle,
adherent,
proselyte,
votary,
catechumen
in the sense of doctrinaire
Definition
stubbornly insistent on the application of a theory without regard to practicality
forty-five years of doctrinaire Stalinism
Synonyms
dogmatic,
rigid,
fanatical,
inflexible
in the sense of exclusive
Definition
used or lived in by a privileged minority, esp. a fashionable clique
He is a member of Britain's most exclusive club.
Synonyms
select,
fashionable,
stylish,
private,
limited,
choice,
narrow,
closed,
restricted,
elegant,
posh (informal, British),
chic,
selfish,
classy (slang),
restrictive,
aristocratic,
high-class,
swish (informal, British),
up-market,
snobbish,
top-drawer,
ritzy (slang),
high-toned,
clannish,
discriminative,
cliquish
in the sense of extremist
Definition
a person who favours or uses extreme or violent methods, esp. to bring about political change
It is believed to be the work of left-wing extremists.
Synonyms
radical,
activist,
militant,
enthusiast,
fanatic,
devotee,
die-hard,
bigot,
zealot,
energumen (archaic)
in the sense of factional
factional disputes between the various groups
Synonyms
contentious,
warring,
rival,
conflicting,
dissident,
partisan,
turbulent,
rebellious,
sectarian,
divisive,
tumultuous,
malcontent,
litigious,
seditious,
mutinous,
refractory,
disputatious,
insurrectionary,
troublemaking
in the sense of fanatic
Definition
a person devoted to a particular hobby or pastime
I am not a religious fanatic but I am a Christian.
Synonyms
extremist,
activist,
militant,
addict,
enthusiast,
buff (informal),
visionary,
devotee,
bigot,
zealot,
energumen (archaic)
in the sense of hidebound
Definition
restricted by petty rules and unwilling to accept new ideas
The men are hidebound and reactionary.
Synonyms
conventional,
set,
rigid,
narrow,
puritan,
narrow-minded,
strait-laced,
brassbound,
ultraconservative,
set in your ways
in the sense of insular
Definition
not open to change or new ideas
The old image of the insular Brit is slowly starting to change.
Synonyms
narrow-minded,
prejudiced,
provincial,
closed,
limited,
narrow,
petty,
parochial,
blinkered,
circumscribed,
inward-looking,
illiberal,
parish-pump
in the sense of parochial
Definition
narrow in outlook
the stuffy and parochial atmosphere of a small village
Synonyms
provincial,
narrow,
insular,
limited,
restricted,
petty,
narrow-minded,
inward-looking,
small-minded,
parish-pump
in the sense of partisan
Definition
prejudiced or one-sided
He is too partisan to be a referee.
Synonyms
prejudiced,
one-sided,
biased,
partial,
sectarian,
factional,
tendentious
Additional synonyms
in the sense of partisan
Definition
a person who supports a particular cause or party
At first the young poet was a partisan of the Revolution.