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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Today, thousands of unplugged wells remain scattered across rural Illinois, quietly leaking methane and threatening soil and water.
—
Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
That would be a devastating blow, particularly for rural Floridians.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Grappling with her own mother’s death, a young girl escapes her abusive home, along with her longtime confidante Rosaleen, and is taken in by three eccentric beekeeping sisters in rural South Carolina.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
The costs of venues in Milwaukee urban areas are higher than those of rural and small-town venues, which provide more flexible options.
—K.h. Koehler, jsonline.com, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rural
Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
That would be a devastating blow, particularly for rural Floridians.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Grappling with her own mother’s death, a young girl escapes her abusive home, along with her longtime confidante Rosaleen, and is taken in by three eccentric beekeeping sisters in rural South Carolina.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
The costs of venues in Milwaukee urban areas are higher than those of rural and small-town venues, which provide more flexible options.
—K.h. Koehler, jsonline.com, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rural
Adjective
-
Roasted chicken at Dee Dee Thai Chef Lakana Trubiana has been cooking some of the best Thai food in Austin for about a decade, and now the trailer owner has a beautiful, pastoral place to call home.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Numerous Norse families followed and established pastoral farms in the region.—
Genevieve LeMoine,
The Conversation,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Signs of a shift were apparent when Iam Tongi, a young reggae talent from Hawaii, and proud Mormon, became Idol’s first non-country winner in three years.—
Zach Schonfeld,
Rolling Stone,
25 Dec. 2025
-
Save 70% off multi-country tours through Exoticca Travelers looking for deep discounts will find some of the steepest savings at Exoticca, where Travel Tuesday deals offer up to 70% off top global experiences, from cultural deep-dives to scenic, multi-country getaways—all available to book now.—
Paris Wilson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
While the snap was taken from inside her car, the outside of her home peeks out in the background, revealing its rustic stone facade.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Finally, snag a room at the rustic-chic Hotel Leavenworth, which puts you within easy walking distance of Front Street’s shops, restaurants, and beer halls.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Here, in the rugged, remote Santa Cruz Mountains, one of California’s coastal ranges, the counterculture had found one of its first bucolic, dharma-bum milieus.—
Scott Eden,
Rolling Stone,
1 Feb. 2026
-
On the western edge of Florida's panhandle, one underrated city offers an oasis of surprising history, a bucolic beachfront—among the best in the nation—and a culture-rich downtown to explore in your flip-flops.—
Matt Kirouac,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rural. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
