cliquish

/kli:ki/ Cách viết khác : (cliquey) /'kli:ki/ (cliquish) /'kli:kiʃ/

Thân thiện

The new student felt excluded by the cliquish group at lunch.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Exclusive and Snobbish: Characteristic of a small, exclusive group that is unfriendly or unwelcoming to outsiders; tending to associate only with a select circle and rebuff those considered inferior or outside the group. 2. Pertaining to a Clique: Befitting or typical of a clique—a small, closed group of people with shared interests or other features in common, who often exclude others.

Usage

The word "cliquish" is used to describe the behavior, attitude, or nature of a group or an individual that is exclusive and unwelcoming. It carries a negative connotation, implying snobbery, exclusivity, and a lack of openness.

Examples

• Describing a Group:
  • The club had a cliquish atmosphere that made new members feel uncomfortable.
  • Her coworkers were so cliquish that they always ate lunch together and never invited anyone else.
• Describing Behavior or Attitude:
  • His cliquish behavior in high school meant he only talked to people from his own neighborhood.
  • The department was criticized for its cliquish tendencies, favoring insiders for promotions.

Advanced Usage

• "to be cliquish": To exhibit the characteristics of a clique.
  • Despite its friendly appearance, the student organization could be surprisingly cliquish.
• Sociological Context: Used to analyze social dynamics within organizations, schools, or communities.
  • The study examined the cliquish nature of adolescent social networks.

Variants and Related Words

• Clique (n): A small, exclusive group of people.
  • She refused to join any of the social cliques at school.
• Cliquey (adj): An informal variant with the same meaning as "cliquish."
  • The office culture was terribly cliquey.
• Cliquishness (n): The quality or state of being cliquish.
  • The cliquishness of the group was a barrier to effective teamwork.

Synonyms

• Exclusive: Restricted to a particular group.
• Snobbish: Feeling superior to others.
• Aloof: Not friendly or forthcoming; distant.
• Insular: Ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience.
• Selective: Tending to choose carefully or favoring some over others (in a social context).

Antonyms

• Inclusive: Open to everyone; not excluding any particular group of people.
• Welcoming: Behaving in a friendly way to guests or newcomers.
• Open: Willing to consider new ideas; unprejudiced and approachable.
• Gregarious: Fond of company; sociable.

Idioms and Phrases

• "To form a clique": To create a small, exclusive group. While not using "cliquish" directly, this phrase describes the action that leads to a cliquish environment.
  • Some of the seniors formed a clique that dominated student council decisions.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. befitting or characteristic of those who incline to social exclusiveness and who rebuff the advances of people considered inferior

Từ đồng nghĩa

• clannish
• clubby
• snobbish
• snobby