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
Vasos told analysts Tuesday that many of Dollar General’s core shoppers, who have mid-to-low incomes and live in rural areas, were paring back their food spending.
—
Anne D'innocenzio, Fortune, 7 June 2026
Environmental advocates say the demand risks depleting both Lake Michigan and rural well water supplies.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
As our research has shown, cities typically hold additional heat compared to surrounding rural locations because of the urban heat island.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Smaller, rural counties could be forced to merge.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rural
Anne D'innocenzio, Fortune, 7 June 2026
Environmental advocates say the demand risks depleting both Lake Michigan and rural well water supplies.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
As our research has shown, cities typically hold additional heat compared to surrounding rural locations because of the urban heat island.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Smaller, rural counties could be forced to merge.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rural
Adjective
-
Visitors might arrive by crossing the central plaza; emerging from the underground parking garage, nestled into a berm; or else wandering in from the surrounding Jackson Park, a network of pastoral paths completed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1871.—
Sam Cochran,
Architectural Digest,
4 June 2026
-
In retrospect, this traumatic event gave us a luminous, decades-long solo career that moved seamlessly from oblique art-rock to sumptuous electronica, pastoral instrumentals, and soundtrack music.—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
The efforts are part of a multi-country response and preparedness plan that also covers Uganda, South Sudan and other neighboring countries.—
Maryanne Murray Buechner,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
The hantavirus outbreak aboard the Hondius last month prompted a multi-country response and the hospitalization of passengers in Britain, France, Spain and the United States.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
This summertime enclave maintains its rustic charm with a population of only about 3,000 and almost a third of the land preserved by the Nature Conservancy.—
Kira Turnbull,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
-
Partial Gray Cabinets With White Tile Add myriad wood tones and textures to bring an otherwise modern gray-and-white kitchen into the homey, rustic realm.—
Lauren Jones,
The Spruce,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
His menu echoes the bucolic setting.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
1 June 2026
-
Known as Elmwood, the bucolic spread was long owned by the family of renowned broadcaster Roger Mudd.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rural. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
