Make Your Point > Archived Issues > INSULAR
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pronounce
INSULAR:
Say it "IN suh lur."
(Or, if you prefer, "IN syuh lur.")
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
1. If we take the Latin word for island and turn it into an adjective, we get insular, meaning "closed off, isolated, restricted, narrow-minded." That's the word we're checking out today.
2. We could make a close synonym of insular by doing the same with the word province ("a region of a country"), that is, turning it into an adjective: provincial.
3. See if you can make another synonym with the word parish ("a small district, especially one where everyone goes to the same church"): par_______.
4. See if you can make one more synonym with a verb that means "to draw a circle around:" c____scr__ed.
The four options above provide wonderful little nuances. Do you want to imply that someone's narrow, restricted way of thinking reminds you of living inside a circle, living in a small district, living in a certain region, or living on an island? It's up to you.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
make your point with...
"INSULAR"
This word comes from the Latin one for "island."
"Insular" can simply mean "like an island" or "related to an island."
Here's the figurative meaning. Insular people and things are alone, cut off from other groups, and too focused on their own narrow, limited ideas.
Part of speech:
Adjective: "that insular culture," "this insular group."
Other forms:
The adverb is "insularly."
For the nouns, use "insularity" or "insularism."
The related verb, "insulate," is so useful figuratively that we'll spend a whole other issue on it later.
How to use it:
Talk about insular people, families, groups, communities, nations, cultures, and industries, along with their insular mindsets, attitudes, lifestyles, goals, desires, and so on.
You can also describe a place as insular. That might mean it's literally island-like, separate from other places. Or, that might mean the people there have insular attitudes: "persistent views of the insular Midwest" (Washington Post).
Because the word "insular" suggests an island, I don't recommend mixing in other metaphors. That is, to my ear, it sounds fine to talk about "bridging a group's insularity," but it sounds awkward to talk about "breaking through a group's insularity." (They're on an island, not behind a wall.)
examples:
"With the rise in popularity of social media platforms, Iranian efforts to remain insular face a greater threat than ever."
— Melissa Etehad, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2019
"For the longest time, Teresa Miller wanted to get as far from Oklahoma as possible—to escape from ... the small-town insularity of Tahlequah."
— Publisher's description of Means of Transit: A Slightly Embellished Memoir, University of Oklahoma Press, 2008
has this page helped you understand "insular"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "insular" without saying "isolated" or "closed off."
try it out:
Writing for the Washington Post, E.J. Dionne Jr. describes Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, as "telegenic, fresh, broadly progressive and, at 47, young"--but then goes on to say that throughout Trudeau's first four years in office, "his insular inner circle didn’t challenge him enough."
Talk about what it means to go unchallenged by your "insular inner circle." And, talk about other ways in which insularity among friends and associates can be a bad thing--or, maybe, a good thing.
before you review, play:
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
Rhyming Puzzles!
I give you a description of something, and you name it in a rhyming phrase. For example, if I say, "This is an ideal environment for a large tree-dwelling lizard--one in which this creature is perfectly happy and peaceful," then you say, "That's iguana nirvana."
The answers will get longer and sillier as the month goes on. If you'd like to see the clue, click or mouse-over the link. I'll share each answer the following day. Enjoy!
From the previous issue: Mr. Baker, the star of movies like Mars Attacks! and Goldeneye, never seems to age. He pulled off the same grizzled, squinting, cowboyish look from Bonanza (1968) to Fletch (1985). The more you think about this mystical agelessness, the less sense it makes. It fact, the mystery seems to be undoing critical thinking, rather than the other way around. It’s a ___ ___ ____. (Three words: the first two words have one syllable each, and the last word has two syllables. Clue: use this word.)
Answer: Joe Don koan.
Try this one today: At the movies, as you head to the concession stand for a snack, you realize that the smell you expected--warm and buttery--is missing. Gross: the snacks aren't being made fresh; they're sitting in small yellow bags, dusty ones, that look as if they've been there for a long time. No one's been buying them, and you won't, either, because it's all ________ _______. (Two words, two syllables each. Clue: use this word.)
review this word:
1. Some near opposites of INSULAR are
A. KIND and BIG-HEARTED.
B. WEAK and SUGGESTIBLE.
C. OPEN-MINDED and COSMOPOLITAN.
2. According to the prosecutors, when those wealthy parents bought their kids' way into elite colleges, the parents were not just morally corrupt but also distinctly insular, _____.
A. unable to realize that the places they stole were stolen from other kids
B. totally oblivious to the struggles of kids from poor and middle-class families
C. willing to risk their own reputations, and their own freedom, for their kids' success
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
1. If we take the Latin word for island and turn it into an adjective, we get insular, meaning "closed off, isolated, restricted, narrow-minded." That's the word we're checking out today. This word comes from the Latin one for "island."
"With the rise in popularity of social media platforms, Iranian efforts to remain insular face a greater threat than ever."
Explain the meaning of "insular" without saying "isolated" or "closed off."
Writing for the Washington Post, E.J. Dionne Jr. describes Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, as "telegenic, fresh, broadly progressive and, at 47, young"--but then goes on to say that throughout Trudeau's first four years in office, "his insular inner circle didn’t challenge him enough."
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
1. Some near opposites of INSULAR are
|