clannishness
clannishness — noun
1. a tendency for members of a close group to help and support each other while ign
a tendency for members of a close group to help and support each other while ignoring or being unfriendly toward people who are not part of that group.
The clannishness of the old neighbourhood made it hard for new families to feel welcome.
clannishness + of + [specific group]
Putri noticed the clannishness among senior staff when newer nurses received no help.
clannishness + among + [group of people]
The clannishness within the department made collaboration with other teams almost impossible.
Caleb grew frustrated with the clannishness of the club, where only long-time members received support.
- exclusivity
less negative; can describe a desirable quality
- insularity
more formal; focuses on being cut off from outside contact
- factionalism
focuses on conflict between groups rather than in-group favouritism alone
- inclusiveness
the opposite attitude of welcoming outsiders
- openness
neutral; describes willingness to accept new members
文法句型
clannishness + of + group
clannishness + among + plural group
用法筆記
Subject is typically a community, workplace, organisation, or social group. Frequently used with a critical tone to describe exclusionary behaviour.
常見錯誤
clannishness — adjective
- clannishnesspositive
- more clannishnesscomparative
- most clannishnesssuperlative
1. relating to a traditional social group made up of families who share a common an
relating to a traditional social group made up of families who share a common ancestor or name.
The village still follows clannish traditions when deciding who may use the communal land.
Mira studied the clannish structure of several nomadic tribes in Central Asia.
clannish structure of + [group]
The research focused on clannish customs of the Berber communities in North Africa.
Feng wrote a paper on how clannish bonds shaped land ownership rules in the region.
- tribal
broader; can refer to any ethnic group, not just clan-based societies
2. tending to associate closely with people who share one's own background or statu
tending to associate closely with people who share one's own background or status, while keeping outsiders at a distance.
Some private schools have a clannish atmosphere that keeps students from mixing with local children.
Renata found the expat community too clannish and decided to join local clubs instead.
found + [group] + too clannish
The clannish culture among senior residents made the home unwelcoming to new tenants like Danilo.
The clannish attitude of the gym regulars made newcomers feel unwelcome during their first visit.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (CLAN-RELATED) which refers literally to a clan structure. This sense describes a social behaviour — keeping to one's own group — and carries a mildly critical tone.