Definition of tribalnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Employees no longer rely on tribal knowledge or interrupt managers with routine questions. — Nicholas Pope, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026 Polly Girvin, who pushed for changes at Jackson along with her late partner and tribal leader Priscilla Hunter, said the fight will continue under California’s next governor. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026 The Puget Sound Partnership, for example, includes several tribal representatives on its leadership board. — Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 23 Sep. 2026 This tribal tax credit should sound ridiculous on the surface. — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tribal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tribal
Adjective
  • And ethnic minorities during the Ming dynasty were pressured into intermarriage, just as the 2026 Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress codifies Beijing’s new policies on forcible ethnic assimilation.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The election comes at a time of economic hardship, ethnic divisions and stalled hopes of joining the European Union.
    — Eldar Emric, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Another prospective study, from Emory University, found evidence of racial bias, but that the inaccurate results were not fully accounted for by variations in skin tone.
    — Anil Oza, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The dispute highlights how racial stereotypes shape debates over public assistance, as new work rules take effect and many low-income people struggle to afford basic needs.
    — Laura Turbay, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Genocide is defined as attempting to partly or wholly destroy a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.
    — Ellie Cook Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Tribal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tribal. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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