If you describe someone or something as hidebound, you are criticizing them for having old-fashioned ideas or ways of doing things and being unwilling or unlikely to change.
[disapproval]
The men are hidebound and reactionary.
The economy was hidebound by public spending and private monopolies. [+ by]
Synonyms: conventional, set, rigid, narrow More Synonyms of hidebound
hidebound in British English
(ˈhaɪdˌbaʊnd)
adjective
1.
restricted by petty rules, a conservative attitude, etc
2.
(of cattle, etc) having the skin closely attached to the flesh as a result of poor feeding
3.
(of trees) having a very tight bark that impairs growth
hidebound in American English
(ˈhaɪdˌbaʊnd)
adjective
1.
having the hide tight over the bone and muscle structure of the body, as an emaciated cow
2.
obstinately conservative and narrow-minded
Examples of 'hidebound' in a sentence
hidebound
We need to be less hidebound by old design standards and take a more flexible approach.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They all assumed a similar irreverence towards their hidebound elders.
Jonathan Gregson BLOOD AGAINST THE SNOWS: The Tragic Story of Nepal's Royal Dynasty (2002)
(adjective)
Definition
restricted by petty rules and unwilling to accept new ideas
The men are hidebound and reactionary.
Synonyms
conventional
The conventional wisdom on these matters is being challenged.
set
They have very set ideas about how to get the message across.
rigid
Hospital routines for nurses are very rigid.
narrow
a narrow and outdated view of family life
puritan
Paul has always had a puritan streak.
narrow-minded
He's just a narrow-minded bigot.
strait-laced
He was criticized for being boring, strait-laced and narrow-minded.