variants
or less commonly rustical
1
: of, relating to, or suitable for the country : rural
rustic rolling farmland
2
a
: made of the rough limbs of trees
rustic furniture
b
: finished by rusticating
a rustic joint in masonry
3
a
: characteristic of or resembling country people
b
: lacking in social graces or polish
4
: appropriate to the country (as in plainness or sturdiness)
heavy rustic boots
1
: an inhabitant of a rural area
2
a
: an awkward coarse person
b
: an unsophisticated rural person
Synonyms
Examples of rustic in a Sentence
Adjective
The inn has a rustic atmosphere.
rustic yokels whose first impulse was to smirk gawkily at anyone not of their own kind
Noun
a rustic who was awed by the prices that city dwellers had to pay
Recent Examples on the Web
Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2024
Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo Sloe Gin
Sweet and rustic, this style gets its name from the inclusion of sloe berries in the distillation process.
—Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 26 Apr. 2024
Built in 1920, the building is more than 100 years old, which certainly adds to its rustic allure.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2024
It is outfitted with a high wood-vaulted ceiling, colorful murals, whimsical prints by local artists, sleek half-booth style seating and a rustic, yet modern, bar.
—Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Its Southwestern charm and rustic beauty transported me back to one of my grandfather’s favorite western shoot-em-ups television shows, Bonanza.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 20 Apr. 2024
Vestiges of the neighborhood’s rustic terrain remain visible around the campus.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Property description: This property, accommodating up to ten guests, has a unique, rustic appearance and rests around 800 feet above sea level, known for its impressive balcony and views.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 13 Apr. 2024
At this rustic, remote little resort, visitors can soak in reclaimed bathtubs fed by pure mineral water, dance to live music under the stars, and sleep in a bus that was used to follow the Grateful Dead on tour.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2024
Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 26 Dec. 2023
Ready in just over an hour thanks to the Instant Pot, this rustic, chicken cacciatore dish is a weeknight winner.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2023
Adding Warmth to Your Kitchen Style Copper pairs well with any kitchen style, from cozy vintage to modern rustic.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2023
Grant’s natural aesthetic has a beautiful balance of rustic and refinement.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 18 Oct. 2023
Style From rustic to contemporary, fireplace tool sets come in a variety of styles to suit all types of aesthetics.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Oct. 2023
This front porch setting leans rustic, but accents of pewter, seasonal china, and even tortoiseshell flatware elevate the table.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2023
Umbra Cappa Curtain Rod Another key to keep modern rustic from leaning too far into rustic-only territory is brass hardware.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 30 July 2023
Originally, Shakespeare created rustics: simple, less intelligent clowns like Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing or Grumio in The Taming of the Shrew.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas News, 27 July 2023
Adjective
While still beautiful and rustic, more recently Kauai has seen a rise in posh new hotels, including the stunning 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2024
Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo Sloe Gin
Sweet and rustic, this style gets its name from the inclusion of sloe berries in the distillation process.
—Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 26 Apr. 2024
Built in 1920, the building is more than 100 years old, which certainly adds to its rustic allure.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2024
It is outfitted with a high wood-vaulted ceiling, colorful murals, whimsical prints by local artists, sleek half-booth style seating and a rustic, yet modern, bar.
—Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Its Southwestern charm and rustic beauty transported me back to one of my grandfather’s favorite western shoot-em-ups television shows, Bonanza.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 20 Apr. 2024
Vestiges of the neighborhood’s rustic terrain remain visible around the campus.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Property description: This property, accommodating up to ten guests, has a unique, rustic appearance and rests around 800 feet above sea level, known for its impressive balcony and views.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 13 Apr. 2024
At this rustic, remote little resort, visitors can soak in reclaimed bathtubs fed by pure mineral water, dance to live music under the stars, and sleep in a bus that was used to follow the Grateful Dead on tour.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
The Dresden picture features three satyrs—grinning rustics, horned and horny, who hope to make out with Diana’s accompanying huntswomen.
—Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 26 Dec. 2023
Ready in just over an hour thanks to the Instant Pot, this rustic, chicken cacciatore dish is a weeknight winner.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2023
Adding Warmth to Your Kitchen Style Copper pairs well with any kitchen style, from cozy vintage to modern rustic.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2023
Grant’s natural aesthetic has a beautiful balance of rustic and refinement.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 18 Oct. 2023
Style From rustic to contemporary, fireplace tool sets come in a variety of styles to suit all types of aesthetics.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Oct. 2023
This front porch setting leans rustic, but accents of pewter, seasonal china, and even tortoiseshell flatware elevate the table.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2023
Umbra Cappa Curtain Rod Another key to keep modern rustic from leaning too far into rustic-only territory is brass hardware.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 30 July 2023
Originally, Shakespeare created rustics: simple, less intelligent clowns like Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing or Grumio in The Taming of the Shrew.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas News, 27 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rustic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rustic
Cite this Entry
“Rustic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rustic. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
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