Definition of ruralnext
as in pastoral
of, relating to, associated with, or typical of open areas with few buildings or people grew up in a rural community where more than half the people were farmers a painter noted for his rural landscapes

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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 rural The wildfire crews on federal lands, the veterans' health care providers at the VA, the customs officers at the port, the rural electric engineers, the food safety lab technicians, the dam safety inspectors, the bridge engineers. Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026 Under dark rural skies, observers could see about 30 to 50 shooting stars per hour. Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026 That’s why storing everything in rural Nevada was long considered the easiest path. Jordan Blum, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026 The team analyzed data from more than 1,000 children participating in European health studies in rural areas. Baltimore Sun, Boston Herald, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rural
Adjective
  • And rather than rush to a decision during a pastoral transition, the church chose to set the conversation aside.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Aug. 2026
  • By driving Etna’s drifting itinerary with the quest to return home, Yoon invokes the pastoral nostalgia that has characterized the canine tradition’s man-dog battles against the brutal wilderness.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Previous World Cups were concentrated within one nation, but this year supporters often crossed international borders, making the multi-country experience part of the tournament's appeal.
    Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • The company operates a multi-country manufacturing platform with more than 20 production facilities in Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
    Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • This set comes with four chairs made from bamboo that have a natural, rustic-looking finish.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Blockchain has also become useful in rustic states with expanding technology sectors, such as South Dakota.
    K.H. Koehler, Ascend Agency, 6 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Eve of Destruction, an annual demolition derby in bucolic Hudson Valley, New York.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Over the past few years, Sofie Birch has amassed a sparkling catalog of bucolic curios on outré labels.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rural. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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