as in parochial
not broad or open in views or opinions
some people regard a fear of new things as an unmistakable sign of a provincial attitude
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in peasant
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country
the confidence man figured that fleecing these provincials would be easy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provincial
Sam Mednick, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Living The Land from Film Movement, a coming-of-age drama of provincial life in industrializing 1990s China told from the point of view of a 10-year-old boy, debuts at the Film Forum in NYC.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Not long after his ordination, he was named the Jesuit provincial for Argentina, which put him in charge of the order’s activities throughout the country.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provincial
Adjective
Five people were killed, Iranian state media reported, citing a provincial security official.
—Sam Mednick, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Living The Land from Film Movement, a coming-of-age drama of provincial life in industrializing 1990s China told from the point of view of a 10-year-old boy, debuts at the Film Forum in NYC.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
The same year, he was appointed as a provincial for the order.
—Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Not long after his ordination, he was named the Jesuit provincial for Argentina, which put him in charge of the order’s activities throughout the country.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for provincial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provincial
Adjective
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But quietly, the third-year forward had put himself in position for a more parochial reserve reward, one that caught him unaware.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
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The school, a private parochial campus overseen by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, had 390 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in 2025, according to its website.—
Nick El Hajj,
Des Moines Register,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Like my own personal Cinderella moment, I’ve been turned from a peasant into a princess.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
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The peasants looked different, weathered.—
Michael Sheridan,
Vanity Fair,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But everything is silky and precise to the touch, and the sound astonishingly full and sweet in the small room, with the strain of an accordion coming in through the open window.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
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Handcrafted in small batches, these blends are designed to take the guesswork out of cooking.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Which is to say, this isn’t the story of a greedy, materialistic man who suffers a crisis of conscience while trying to pry a priceless treasure away from an uneducated hick who doesn’t know any better.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
29 Oct. 2025
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Ricky develops romantic feelings for Chad even though Russ plays him as a soft-spoken, possibly dim rural hick who may well be a literal man-child.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Examples of petty beatings also abound, like footage from December showing two guys in Leeds, UK tossing a delivery robot into a bush, or video of one bot cracked open and left for dead on a Los Angeles sidewalk.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
2 Apr. 2026
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His distracted state gave him practically no leverage to overcome Senate President Bill Ferguson’s blockade against his petty redistricting effort.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Full of hearty flavors and filling vegetables, this rustic, comforting dinner comes together swiftly thanks to your slow cooker.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
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Expect a rustic, generously sized tenderloin served on a classic bun, the kind of no-nonsense sandwich that feels right at home in a century-old mom-and-pop setting.—
Susan Stapleton,
Des Moines Register,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Outside of the narrow narrative of two Western Conference teams playing for identity and clarity ahead of the postseason next week looms a larger picture.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
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Spring visitors have a narrow window to explore before the green hills go brown, summer heat arrives and the education center closes for six months beginning June 1.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Part of his way of taking it yokel — besides bringing in Foo Fighter Rami Jaffee on accordion and Willie Aron blowing harmonica — was to add a previously unheard yodel to the chorus.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
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It was adapted into a huge hit movie starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray, but the breakout characters were local yokels Ma and Pa Kettle, who went on to star in eight spinoff movies.—
Brian Boone,
Vulture,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provincial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provincial. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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