PROVINCIAL Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

provincial 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of provincial

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

provincial

2 of 2

noun

prə-ˈvin(t)-shəl

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

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 provincial

Adjective

The provincial government spokeswoman, Samar Haroon Bilour, praised rescue workers for their swift response. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 Missing Pieces qualifies for provincial tax credits of up to 65%, with no Canadian content (CanCon) requirements needed, as Manitoba continues to be a strong option for international productions shooting in Canada. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Noun

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 The same year, he was appointed as a provincial for the order. — Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for provincial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for provincial

Adjective

For Bourne, newspapers, besides giving information, encourage an acceptance of non-parochial views.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Our small island has arguably contributed more in terms of popular music than any other nation, but British driving songs are unavoidably parochial.

— Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of parochial

Noun

In real life millions of peasants were deported, executed, or starved during collectivization.

— Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 10 Oct. 2026
Influential courtiers orbited more closely than those with less gravity, and peasants weren’t part of the picture.

— Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of peasant

Adjective

Comparing households aged 72 and older in 2022 with those aged 75 and older in 2025, Maggiulli calculated a smaller—but still substantial—21% increase.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
The development could help make optical atomic clocks smaller and more suitable for use outside laboratories.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of small

Noun

When Johnson was vice president and visiting Europe, there were reports filed by these British ambassadors in several countries that basically made fun of him as a hick.

— Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
So a bunch of hicks from Topeka were left up to our own devices of going down to Robert Hall and finding something that might be kind of cool.

— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026

Definition of hick

Adjective

Blacks in the South were routinely imprisoned on petty or trumped-up charges, then leased out to landowners, mining companies, railroads and factories as unpaid labor.

— Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, out on the streets, young con artist Thomas Shepherd (Ruaridh Mollica) and pickpocket Lisa Molinari (Lauren Morais) are running petty scams.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of petty

Noun

Kerry learned this the hard way after allowing Jordan to question what appeared to be a local yokel over the mysterious shooting at a Rushville high school football game.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026
It was left to the feds in Boston to arrest Farwell, after Meatball’s local yokels adamantly refused to do anything other than try to broom the crime by one of their own.

— Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026

Definition of yokel

Adjective

The decision to set that tone staggering through all 10 minutes of the extended cut might scan as raw inspiration, placing Spacemen 3 on a narrow band from La Monte Young and Terry Riley to some brilliant dro)))ne future.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Recent polls have shown Jackson holding only a narrow lead over Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.

— DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of narrow

Browse Nearby Words

provinces

provincial

provincialism

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Style

“Provincial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provincial. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of provincial

adjective

noun

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