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
Relevance
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
Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
What the Law Says About Ancient Remains The discovery triggered a process governed by a 2002 provincial law — the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act (FBCSA) — which requires a Burial Site Investigation when remains are found.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 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
The Law That Shifted the Cost to Homeowners A 2002 provincial law — the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act (FBCSA) — governs what happens when human remains are discovered on a property.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
What the Law Says About Ancient Remains The discovery triggered a process governed by a 2002 provincial law — the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act (FBCSA) — which requires a Burial Site Investigation when remains are found.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 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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Any negative pushback in this moment will be interpreted as a small-minded and eminently self-serving response that puts parochial party interests above the interests of the country.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
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Democrats who opposed the bill, however, said the money would mainly go to private or parochial institutions and is part of the Republican caucus's efforts to direct money into private education.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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These chapters reinforce the insight of the old peasant, that the meaning of things is in the living of our lives day by day.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
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Peasant Blouses Perhaps the easy way to get in on the Wuthering Heights hype is with a breezy, ethereal peasant blouse.—
Eva Thomas,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This approach enables precise control of pressure and airflow in a much smaller form factor while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
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Ukraine has launched drone attacks at Russia, although on a smaller scale.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 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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Kansas’ public officials should avoid the distractions of petty prejudices and focus on representing all their citizens.—
Darren Rosenblum,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Joe Cole, late of Peaky Blinders, plays Ethan, a former petty teen gangster from Las Vegas who has decamped to Los Angeles and made an honest man of himself.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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It is centred around a striking building topped with turf, a nod to Iceland’s traditional architecture, with aqueduct-like arches and an angular timber roof inside—a little Hobbit-like, a little sci-fi rustic.—
Rick Jordan,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Restaurants operate on a narrow margin.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Google Maps suggests that the same narrow house is still there.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 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 24 Mar. 2026.
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