Clique-ish

Clique-ish describes behavior, attitudes, or social structures that are characteristic of a clique, a small, exclusive group of people. It often involves excluding outsiders, emphasizing internal group cohesion, and sometimes exhibiting a sense of superiority or aloofness toward those not within the group. This can manifest in various social settings, from high school to professional environments, where an "in-group" forms, creating a feeling of being "out" for others, or actively excluding them. Clique-ish conduct may involve sharing insider jokes, selectively inviting people to events, and forming strong group boundaries.

Clique-ish meaning with examples

• The new student found the school's dance scene extremely clique-ish. The popular kids only danced together, giving her and other newcomers unfriendly stares. She wished the groups were more welcoming so they didn't have to feel isolated during the event.
• The company's internal culture had become increasingly clique-ish. Management held exclusive lunch meetings, leaving those outside the inner circle feeling excluded. Communication was suffering, and many talented employees felt undervalued because they weren't part of the “in-group”.
• During the volunteer orientation, the current volunteers were very Clique-ish, only interacting with each other, and barely acknowledging the new volunteers in the room. This made the newcomers very uncomfortable, as they could feel the strong boundaries in place.
• The social media influencer's comments section showed Clique-ish patterns, with established followers forming echo chambers, downvoting opposing viewpoints, and fostering an air of exclusivity that deterred new engagement, hurting new business opportunities.