cliquish
/ˈkli-kish ˈklē-/ (ame, mw)
cliquish — adjective
- cliquishpositive
- more cliquishcomparative
- most cliquishsuperlative
1. describes a group of people who keep tightly to themselves and treat anyone outs
describes a group of people who keep tightly to themselves and treat anyone outside their circle coldly or with suspicion
The sales department grew cliquish, and new hires ate lunch alone at their desks.
cliquish describing a workplace or team
Fatima left the book club after deciding its members were too cliquish for her taste.
too cliquish for someone
Hamza sat down at the canteen table, but the cliquish seniors fell silent and turned their backs.
The cliquish mothers by the school gates never returned Yelena's greetings in the morning.
Whenever Riko asked a question, the cliquish volunteers exchanged glances and answered in one-word replies.
- clannish
more about family or ethnic loyalty, often across generations
- insular
emphasises lack of contact with the outside world; an insular group may not even realise it is unwelcoming
- exclusionary
more formal, often about policies or active rules that keep people out
用法筆記
Typically describes a group, workplace, or social setting rather than a single person acting alone. Carries a negative judgement about exclusivity.