Skip to main content
tribally

tribally

8.1
In a way that shows strong loyalty to one group and opposes others
  • adverb
  • /ˈtraɪbəli/
translation icon : de manera sectaria
  • In the heated debate, he argued tribally, always siding with his community against outsiders.

So I don't, I think it is a huge problem that we face as a society that right now people think tribally and they allow themselves to.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Many people today tend to think tribally, prioritizing their group over the common good.

  • During the election, the candidates spoke tribally, appealing directly to their loyal supporters.

  • Stop being so tribally Republican.

    Blog text (26)
  • Well, you can see how, I guess in some situations this could cause people tribally to do something noble.

  • So I don't, I think it is a huge problem that we face as a society that right now people think tribally and they allow themselves to.

  • I can't believe that all of them at Verizon are such tribally backward that it took such a long time to solve this problem.

    Blog text (1)

Synonyms

sectarianly
vstribally
9.7

In a way that favors one religious or political group and divides people

is loyalty to any group, not limited to religious or political groups
clannishly
vstribally
9.4

In a way that keeps a small, close group together and leaves outsiders out

is loyalty plus open opposition to other groups rather than mere inwardness

How Partisan

tribally
8.1
favorably
  • US
36 2.3
impartially
6 4.8

Surface Forms

tribally positive

Morphology

tribally = tribal (semi-transparent) = tribe + al + ly

The adverbial formation is regular, but the sense 'group-loyalty/partisanship' is an extended, pragmatic meaning that is not fully predictable from 'tribal' alone.

Etymology

Tribally comes from tribe, a word for a 'group' of people, and it often means strong loyalty to your group and opposition to others. So to act tribally is to put your group's interests first and resist outside views.