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 In this way, NYCG would also improve the health and finances of rural communities, extending its benefits to New Yorkers who may never shop in the five stores. Marian Flaxman, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026 There is also a wide gap between suburban and rural counties. Razak Diallo, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026 Nearly 80% of the people in this rural municipality live in poverty. Alfredo Sosa, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Aug. 2026 The temperance movement was in full swing then, and the aversion to alcohol was especially strong in the rural South. Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rural
Adjective
  • This 1920s hooked rug serves as a piece of American folk art and its pastoral nursery rhyme scene lends the right amount of charm.
    Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Although the film is about a specific Somali pastoral community, the emotions and questions at its center are universal.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • But also multi-country emigration tales, as in Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Adjective
  • Built in 1939, the dwelling’s traditional facade, with gable dormers and white picket fencing, sets the tone for interiors by local design firm KKD that feel rustic and modern at once.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The fire came within a quarter-mile of Deetjen’s, a rustic 90-year-old hotel.
    Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • This is the ultimate bucolic New England getaway for families, couples, and groups of friends.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Beaverbrook, a bucolic five-star country house hotel composed of a main manor house and storybook-style individual cottages.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rural. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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