The now ubiquitous occurrence of sectarian violence is the product of growing tensions between the country's different ethnic groups.
Source: tatoeba (2426970)
Sectarian
/sɛkˈtɛəɹi.ən/
Synonyms for "sectarian" (151 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (31)
adherentalienatedantiestablishmentapostateat oddsat odds withat varianceat variance withbeatificationbeatitudebeatnikbigotbigotedblessednessblessingbohemianbreakawaybugcanonizationclannish
Show 3 more words
Noun(2 words)
Strong matches (45)
Related words (75)
Noun(9 words)
insular scholarlyschismaticssectaristsectarytribal council meeting scheduletribal councilstribal leaderstribalistic thinkingtrotskyist
interestedjustificationjustification by workslimitedlocalmaverickmembermisfitnarrownarrow-mindednonconformingnonconformistnonjurornutobjectoropinionistopposingopposition voiceoriginalparochial
Show 32 more words
partialpartisanpartyprejudicedprejudicialprotestantprotesterprovincialpurificationrecusantrigidsainthoodsaintingsanctificationschismaticschismaticalsectarysectionalseparatistsetting apartsmall-townsplinterstate of graceswingertrue believerugly ducklingunconformistundergroundunorthodoxvotaryyippiezealot
Adjective(14 words)
intolerantparochialpartialpartisanpartisanshipprejudicepuritanicsadduceanscholarly factionalismtribaltribal assemblytribal customstribalisticzealot
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: adherent, adventist, alienated, anabaptist, antiestablishment.
- Sentence evidence is available for sectarian, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "sectarian".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "sectarian"
Keep "sectarian" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "sectarian" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "sectarian", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "sectarian" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
9 entriessectarian activistsectarian advocacysectarian agitatorsectarian bullysectarian educationsectarian leadersectarian politicssectarian rhetoricsectarian violence
Collocations
9 entriessectarian biassectarian conflictsectarian curriculumsectarian dividesectarian dividessectarian politicssectarian rhetoricsectarian tensionssectarian violence
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
7 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
9 total sentences available.
Sectarian violence is an unwelcome reality for the city's population.
Source: tatoeba (2807060)
As too often, those trumpeting the benefits of globalization have ignored inequality within and among nations; have ignored the enduring appeal of ethnic and sectarian identities; have left international institutions ill-equipped, underfunded, under-resourced, in order to handle transnational challenges.
Source: tatoeba (5774018)
People who talk to you all the time about mosques, Islam and the prophet urge you to normalize sectarian thinking.
Source: tatoeba (9800830)
Showing 4 of 9 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "sectarian"?
Closest matches include adherent, adventist, alienated, anabaptist, antiestablishment.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "sectarian"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.