cliquishly

9.1

In a way that makes people feel left out of a small closed group

adverb
/ˈklɪkɪʃli/

Informal

: de manera exclusiva

The group behaved cliquishly, ignoring everyone who wasn't part of their circle.

Examples

At work, her colleagues sometimes treat her cliquishly, refusing to share important information.
Some children acted cliquishly on the playground, making others feel left out.
The group behaved cliquishly, ignoring everyone who wasn't part of their circle.
They spoke cliquishly about their shared interests.
The group often acts cliquishly during lunch.
Some children acted cliquishly on the playground, making others feel left out.
At work, her colleagues sometimes treat her cliquishly, refusing to share important information.

Synonyms

clannishly

vscliquishly

9.4

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

is more about actively excluding outsiders rather than just inward focus

Antonyms

openly

303 1.6

To say or do things without hiding feelings

inclusively

1 3.9

You count every person and thing inside the given limits

How Exclusive

exclusively

191 3.3

cliquishly

Informal

9.1

openly

303 1.6

cordially

11 4.0

sociably

3.4

Surface Forms

cliquishly positive

cliquishlyer comparative

cliquishlyest superlative

Morphology

cliquishly = cliquish (transparent) = clique + ish + ly

The adverb is a direct formation from the adjective 'cliquish' with the productive suffix '-ly', and 'cliquish' is transparently derived from 'clique' + '-ish'.

Etymology

Cliquishly comes from clique, a word for a 'small, closed group' of people who stick together. Imagine a group that 'clicks' together and leaves others out. So, to act cliquishly is to behave like you are in that closed circle and to leave outsiders out.