insular
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for insular, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Interested only in your own group or community and uninterested in ideas or people from outside it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use insular
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
insular attitude
insular community
insular thinking
increasingly insular
The figurative sense is critical; the island sense is neutral and mostly technical.
Etymology
From Latin insularis, from insula 'island'.
Full origin of insular →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between insular and isolated?
Isolated describes a physical or social separation that may be nobody's choice. Insular describes an attitude, suggesting the group has chosen to shut others out or simply has no curiosity about them.
Is insular an insult?
In its figurative sense, yes. It accuses a person or institution of narrowness. The biological and geographical sense, as in insular flora, carries no criticism.
What is insularity?
Insularity is the noun form, meaning the state of being closed off and inward-looking, as in the insularity of a small profession.
