1
as in rural
of, relating to, associated with, or typical of open areas with few buildings or people
painted a pastoral scene of a flower-filled meadow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ministerial
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy
pastoral advice to a young couple preparing to marry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pastorale
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pastoral
Genevieve Lemoine, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2026
The pastoral feel of the music, and Murdoch’s soft, tremulous tenor conjures Nick Drake, but the content of the songs hews closer to the urban fever dreams of Martin Amis, whose 1995 novel The Information traces similar lines of fading-empire disenfranchisement.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
Elsewhere, Abercrombie’s pastorals are almost like burlesques of plein air painting.
—Jeremy Lybarger, ARTnews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pastoral
Adjective
Numerous Norse families followed and established pastoral farms in the region.
—Genevieve Lemoine, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2026
The pastoral feel of the music, and Murdoch’s soft, tremulous tenor conjures Nick Drake, but the content of the songs hews closer to the urban fever dreams of Martin Amis, whose 1995 novel The Information traces similar lines of fading-empire disenfranchisement.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
His voice is the ghost in the machine, a strangely humane presence amid all the urban-industrial pastoral.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
Elsewhere, Abercrombie’s pastorals are almost like burlesques of plein air painting.
—Jeremy Lybarger, ARTnews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pastoral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pastoral
Adjective
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Republicans said that would stave off abuse of the Medicaid program and added a $50 billion investment in rural health to offset losses.—
ALI SWENSON,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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Judges in rural counties couldn’t find attorneys willing to represent parents, and when attorneys were sent to the area, they were untrained in family law, Fransein said.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Rayner is a popular and charismatic Labour Party soldier who was forced to step down from her role at 10 Downing Street in September due to a breach of the ministerial code after underpaying taxes on one of her residential properties.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
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Binali Yıldırım, a loyal supporter, took on prime ministerial duties.—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Including 55 serious operas, 6 cantatas, 53 comic operas, 17 operettas, 6 sing-spiele, 4 ballets, 4 vaudevilles, 2 oratorios, one each of fares, pastorales, masques, ballads and buffas.—
WILLIAM ROBIN,
New York Times,
1 Sep. 2017
Noun
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But while Provo has become developed, its neighbors, Parrish assured me, remain timeless idylls, their empty interiors encircled by endless beaches fringed with casuarina trees.—
Henry Wismayer,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
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Peppered with archival drawings of The Sea Ranch, quotations from the utopian community’s founding architects, and evocative family photographs, the document eloquently illuminates the Matases’ vision for their seaside idyll.—
Mayer Rus,
Architectural Digest,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Plus an elegy for Breonna Taylor, featuring cellist Jeffrey Zeigler.—
Britt Julious,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
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These books can be read as comedies of cognitive dissonance or as melancholy elegies for the very possibility of closure.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Like a typical Catholic Mass, scriptures, psalms and gospels will be read and the Holy Communion will be given.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
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Each song presents a lyrical tapestry that carries messages from God, frequently drawing upon references to biblical psalms.—
Ingrid Fajardo,
Billboard,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Spiritual Sound Marc-André Hamelin, Found Objects / Sound Objects The Beths, Straight Line Was a Lie A year like no other, my 2025 in music was filled with joyous arias and madrigals of melancholy.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
29 Dec. 2025
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This is a lovely fundraiser to assist in the preservation of the cemetery, and the day is filled with master gardeners offering advice, madrigals singing, an archaeology talk, refreshments, kids’ activities and lots of lovely spring plants for sale.—
Janet Kusterer,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Going into the night, Anderson’s action epic had amassed 35 critics and guild prizes for best picture, including a rare sweep of all four major critics prizes — National Board of Review, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
8 Feb. 2026
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Challenge yourself on an epic via ferrata climbing adventure.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pastoral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pastoral. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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