backwoods 1 of 2

plural noun

ˈbak-ˈwu̇dz How to pronounce backwoods (audio)
Definition of backwoodsnext
as in countryside
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country lived far out in the backwoods and raised hogs for a living

Synonyms & Similar Words

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backwoods

2 of 2

adjective

as in rural

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backwoods
Adjective
The Curse of Buckout Road Witches burning at the stake, backwoods albino killers and a modern day stalker prove to be more than urban legends on this New York state byway. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2019 The weekend gets going on Friday with music from Gator Nate, the lovable backwoods yahoo and role model for many a UF pledge. — Ben Crandell, sun-sentinel.com, 22 Aug. 2019 Clustered among pine forests and sunny prairies along scenic backwoods roads 20 miles south of town, Perkins Tank and JD Dam Lake comprise a water-centric tour of the Kaibab National Forest’s southern sector. — Mare Czinar, azcentral, 5 July 2019 Think of the backwoods ranger and Minuteman, the Confederate cavalry officer, the flying ace of World War I, the commando, the Green Beret and SEAL. — John F. Ross, WSJ, 4 June 2019 See All Example Sentences for backwoods
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backwoods
  1. rural
  2. provincial
  3. countrified
  4. country
  5. bucolic
Adjective
  • Beijing has appointed its own senior monks, maintained close surveillance and controls on religious expression, and faced allegations of cracking down on peaceful dissent and forcing the large-scale relocation of rural and nomadic Tibetans.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • With no bright moon competing against faint meteors, observers under rural skies could see 60 to 100 meteors per hour, while even suburban observers should enjoy a steady stream of shooting stars.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of rural
Adjective
  • Most projects, after all, start small—a municipal equipment contract, a provincial memorandum, a maintenance agreement.
    — Natalia Cote-Muñoz, Foreign Affairs, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial emergency service, said the attacker struck dozens of people who were chanting antimilitant slogans and demanding peace.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of provincial
Adjective
  • Lines that seem artlessly off-the-cuff on first pass accrue an unexpected weight and purpose the fourth time through; the countrified guitar lick that sounds so chipper at the start of a song is dripping with melancholy by the end.
    — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 4 June 2026
  • Timed to coincide with Cactus League spring training, the countrified Innings Fest offshoot is in its third year, bringing 20 artists with no overlapping sets to two main stages.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of countrified
Adjective
  • Previous World Cups were concentrated within one nation, but this year supporters often crossed international borders, making the multi-country experience part of the tournament's appeal.
    — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • The company operates a multi-country manufacturing platform with more than 20 production facilities in Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 26 June 2026
Definition of country
Adjective
  • Over the past few years, Sofie Birch has amassed a sparkling catalog of bucolic curios on outré labels.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026
  • Their signature farmhouse look imbues it with a certain bucolic charm, and all their products are hand-forged in Charleston, South Carolina.
    — Clara Hillis, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2026
Definition of bucolic

Browse Nearby Words

backwater
backwoods
backwoodsman
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Cite this Entry

“Backwoods.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backwoods. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on backwoods

Nglish: Translation of backwoods for Spanish Speakers

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