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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Dissimilar Words

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
  • Seeking an escape from the rapid urbanization unfolding across Chicago, the eminent industrialist purchased a rolling rural estate in Lisle.
    — S. Sorrina Beecher, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
  • As rural populations decline, these cultural landscapes are disappearing, but in Niigata, the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale has emerged as a model for regenerative tourism.
    — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of rural
Adjective
  • The meaning of this term—put by Hemingway into the mouth of his mentor and teacher Gertrude Stein, rather unpoetically, at a gas station in provincial France—is disputed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The ministry oversees a range of provincial and national-level bureaus, including for intelligence gathering.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 12 Nov. 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
  • Early last year, Russia released American school teacher Marc Fogel, and in 2024 journalist Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan were among those released from Russian custody in a complicated multi-country prisoner swap.
    — Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But also multi-country emigration tales, as in Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of country
Adjective
  • The Blue Ribbon Suite, on a corner, offers expansive views of the bucolic Virginia landscape and a stone terrace—the perfect perch for a glass of local wine.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Step inside, though, and you’re transported to a bucolic Britain of rolling hills and village greens, bumbling eccentrics and cute, clever farm animals.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 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 14 Nov. 2026.

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