as in ethnic
of, relating to, or reflecting the traits exhibited by a group of people with a common ancestry and culture a tribal solidarity that transcends all other loyalties or bonds

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tribal The editorial didn’t advise how to overcome tribal hatred and instead focused on the poisonous news of today — disruption and disorder in town halls and political vandalism of Tesla cars. Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025 Sensing a merge right around the corner, Kamilla considers this last tribal immunity contest to be truly key. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025 The divisiveness and vitriol at the state and especially national level is undoubtedly feeding into this local election, as society in general has become more tribal and insular, thanks in large part to the weaponization of social media. Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025 This termination policy subjected tribal nations and reservation lands to state jurisdiction and relocated at least 200,000 Native people from tribal lands to urban centers. Alyssa Kreikemeier, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tribal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tribal
Adjective
  • One of her sources, an ethnic Chinese man who calls himself Atticus, says Chai sometimes contacted him well past midnight, fact-checking details.
    Wenxin Fan, NPR, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Others have argued that populism encompasses figures such as Bernie Sanders who speak out against élites without attacking ethnic or religious minorities or seeking to undermine democracy.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Robbins was mostly Black, a place built by Black people who were tired of racial conflict in Chicago.
    D. Watkins, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Despite the perception of racial insensitivity in his casting, Walter Emanuel Jones is proud to have originated the role of the Black Ranger.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The United Nations broadly defines genocide as seriously harming or killing members of a group with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.
    Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2022
  • Pippa Small Getty ImagesJeff Spicer/BFC Meghan's support for ethnical clothing labels naturally extends to her jewelry collection.
    Marina Liao, Marie Claire, 2 Jan. 2019

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Cite this Entry

“Tribal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tribal. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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