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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rural
The 37-year-old lives in rural Anson County, North Carolina, and relies on SNAP to help feed her four children.
—
Maria Aspan, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
Four rural North State counties — Alpine, Colusa, Sierra, and Plumas — conduct elections solely via mail and do not have polling places.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
The torrential rains and strong winds caused severe flooding that left several rural communities isolated and damaged buildings, roads, crops and infrastructure in poor areas that had already been hit by Hurricane Oscar last year.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
The incident, while humorous, underscores the variety of unexpected challenges rural law enforcement officers may face.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rural
Maria Aspan, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
Four rural North State counties — Alpine, Colusa, Sierra, and Plumas — conduct elections solely via mail and do not have polling places.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
The torrential rains and strong winds caused severe flooding that left several rural communities isolated and damaged buildings, roads, crops and infrastructure in poor areas that had already been hit by Hurricane Oscar last year.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
The incident, while humorous, underscores the variety of unexpected challenges rural law enforcement officers may face.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rural
Adjective
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Into this pastoral scene of modern irrigation and baseball training sweeps Walter Matthau, driving a big, old, shambolic convertible, well past its prime but, like its driver, still possessing more than a bit of charm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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Bloody battles raged throughout the fall of 1863 along the banks of the Tennessee River, in pastoral valleys, and on the flanks of Lookout Mountain, a long, craggy ridge overlooking the city.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The president, meanwhile, is on a multi-country trip in Asia and isn't scheduled to return until Thursday.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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When asked about cross-border collaboration, Weiss pointed to Europe’s model of routine multi-country co-productions.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Warm, gauzy photographs depict a rustic kitchen hung with antique baskets and gleaming copper pots; militantly tidy arrangements of canapés; and a radiant young Stewart in a spotless white dress.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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The cozy lodge rooms, rustic yet luxurious cabins, and glamping tents all nod to refined Canadiana—think wood headboards, plaid throw blankets, and woodsy touches like vintage snowshoes hanging on the wall.—
Lisa Kadane,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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He was born in the small town of Damongo in Ghana’s bucolic northwest.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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Just over an hour away from London by train (the Brits really do have public transportation figured out in ways that had this American practically salivating with jealousy), Soho Farmhouse sits on 100 bucolic acres in the small town of Chipping Upon Norton.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rural. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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