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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pastoral
Jeremy Lybarger, ARTnews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
This is rock and roll as pastoral.
—Mitch Therieau, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2024
Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
The production, which toured the country, made its debut just after the Civil War, when its pastoral setting and evocation of the Founding may have soothed audiences still scarred by sectional conflict.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pastoral
Adjective
Elsewhere, Abercrombie’s pastorals are almost like burlesques of plein air painting.
—Jeremy Lybarger, ARTnews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
This is rock and roll as pastoral.
—Mitch Therieau, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
Police described Waller as a community member who was known to visit patients under a pastoral role.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
The production, which toured the country, made its debut just after the Civil War, when its pastoral setting and evocation of the Founding may have soothed audiences still scarred by sectional conflict.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pastoral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pastoral
Adjective
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The confounding discovery of a human femur has created a mystery in the dense woods of rural North Carolina.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
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Visitor spending in rural towns drops as trips are canceled or shortened, which affects small businesses that often contribute volunteer time or direct donations to stewardship projects.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But over the weekend, the Japan Times reported that the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) planned to seek Komeito’s backing for a joint prime ministerial candidate.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
15 Oct. 2025
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The most notable change to the ministerial picks was incoming Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, head of the Paris police, who replaces Bruno Retailleau, leader of the conservative Republicans Party and who harbours his own presidential ambitions.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
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
-
But his last two years proved anything but an idyll.—
Jane Kamensky,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
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The 70-year-old star has always swung for the fences — often literally, in pastoral baseball idylls like Bull Durham and Field of Dreams — with bold, risky choices.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Harmony Holiday’s elegy/essay for D’Angelo is a stunning piece of writing.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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Overall, the snippet sounds like an elegy for Bryan’s vision of America.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The basilica was temporarily shut down on Monday, Oct. 13, and prayers and psalms were said as holy water was showered on the altar, according to the outlet.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
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Revered by all three Abrahamic religions, the psalms were often recited, read, and sung in routine worship.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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The service and concert will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the church, 815 S. Washington St. Castle Singers are vocalists who perform a variety of chamber repertoire, varying from Renaissance madrigals and motets to contemporary pop and vocal jazz.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This was Love’s night to shine, delivering much more than a singular highlight or hurdle, going beyond that 98-yard touchdown run to open the College Football Playoff or that 2-yard epic against Penn State in the Orange Bowl.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio’s very contemporary epic has shown good week-to-week holds, but the film has only earned $59 million in North America through 22 days of release.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pastoral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pastoral. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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