Definition

Noun: - The tendency or characteristic of associating exclusively with a small, select group of people, often to the exclusion of others. It implies an insular, exclusive social behavior where a group is perceived as being closed or unwelcoming to outsiders.

Usage

• Cliquishness is used to describe the social dynamic of a group that is perceived as exclusive, insular, or unwelcoming. It is often used in a critical or negative context to highlight a lack of openness or inclusivity within a community, organization, or social setting.

Examples

• The cliquishness of the senior management team made it difficult for new executives to feel accepted.
• There was a noticeable cliquishness in the club, with long-term members rarely interacting with newcomers.
• The school aimed to reduce social cliquishness by promoting cross-grade collaborative projects.

Advanced Usage

• In-group/Out-group Dynamics: Cliquishness is a key concept in social psychology, describing the formation of tight-knit in-groups that can lead to favoritism towards group members and prejudice against out-group members.
• Organizational Culture: In a workplace context, cliquishness can be a barrier to collaboration, innovation, and employee morale, as it can create silos and hinder the free flow of information.

Variants and Related Words

• Clique (n): A small, exclusive group of people with shared interests or other features in common, often perceived as excluding others.
  • She felt she didn't belong to the popular clique in high school.
• Cliquish (adj): Having the characteristics of a clique; exclusive.
  • The department's cliquish culture discouraged new ideas from outside the core group.
• Cliquey (adj): Informal variant of .
  • The neighborhood association was seen as rather cliquey.

Synonyms

• Exclusivity: The practice of excluding or being exclusive.
• Insularity: Ignorance of or lack of interest in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience; narrow-mindedness.
• Tribalism: The state or fact of being organized in a tribe or tribes; behavior and attitudes that stem from strong loyalty to one's own tribe or social group.

Antonyms

• Inclusivity: The practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.
• Openness: Lack of restriction; accessibility.
• Gregariousness: The quality of being fond of company; sociability.

Noun

1. tendency to associate with only a select group