cliquey
adjective C2
Plain meaning
unfriendly to outsiders because a small group stays together
Exam-register meaning
In formal or high-level texts, it is used to describe unfriendly to outsiders because a small group stays together, often with a precise or specialised tone.
In context
naturalHis response sounded cliquey, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a cliquey assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a cliquey responsecliquey behavioura cliquey situation
Watch out
Do not use “very cliquey” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
cliqueyness (noun, where natural)cliqueyly (adverb, where natural)