rustic 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rusticnext
as in peasant
an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country a rustic who was awed by the prices that city dwellers had to pay

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rustic

2 of 2

adjective

ˈrə-stik How to pronounce rustic (audio)
variants also rustical
1
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance rustic yokels whose first impulse was to smirk gawkily at anyone not of their own kind

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rural
of, relating to, associated with, or typical of open areas with few buildings or people a rustic area that has a refreshing lack of billboards and shopping malls

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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 rustic
Adjective
The restaurant offers a selection of local beers and provides a cozy, rustic ambiance. — Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 18 July 2026 The rustic aesthetic continues inside, with white shiplap paneling, timber beams, and wooden accents. — Adam Williams july 17, New Atlas, 17 July 2026 The chicken coop just outside the parterre adds a rustic note. — Myles McDonnell, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026 That was way too rustic for mid-century American sensibilities. — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rustic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rustic
  1. peasant
  2. uncomfortable
  3. rural
  4. provincial
  5. uneasy
  6. hick
  7. clumsy
  8. bumpkin
Noun
  • The police suspect Juggut Singh, a Sikh peasant with a criminal record who, on the night of the killing, was secretly meeting Nooran, the daughter of a Muslim priest and weaver.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
  • While any peasant blouse or billowy eyelet top will do the trick, there’s something so romantic and eye-catching about an asymmetrical shirt with black jorts.
    — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 23 July 2026
Definition of peasant
Adjective
  • Then, in his most recent outing against the Angels, Skubal dominated for seven shutout innings, a forceful reminder of the ability that led him to this uncomfortable precipice.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Abi Adamson, author of Culture Blooming (the Substack and book) starts somewhere more uncomfortable.
    — Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of uncomfortable
Adjective
  • Jones has backed Amendment 4 on his Facebook page, sharing an opinion piece that argues rural voters have less of a say in the ballot initiative process currently used by the state and are negatively affected by metropolitan agendas.
    — Sophie Lindberg July 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
  • Espinosa said the detention facility’s rural location will put a stranglehold on transparency and communication.
    — Noah Vinsky July 25, Charlotte Observer, 26 July 2026
Definition of rural
Noun
  • Marlowe, the son of a poor Canterbury cobbler, and Shakespeare, the son of a Stratford glover and alderman, were both unlikely artistic geniuses, provincials in a nation in which social class was rigidly fixed.
    — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Sanders is a Catholic priest and former Augustinian provincial in California and lives in the Augustinian community in North Park.
    — Gary Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025
Definition of provincial
Adjective
  • The two had been in an uneasy alliance ruling the country following the 2019 overthrow of Sudan’s longtime dictator, Omar al-Bashir, who had been in power since 1989.
    — Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
  • In the upcoming third season, Kimmie finally has a seat at the Bellarie table, but when a deadly family feud erupts, she’s forced into an uneasy alliance with Mallory.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 July 2026
Definition of uneasy
Noun
  • When Johnson was vice president and visiting Europe, there were reports filed by these British ambassadors in several countries that basically made fun of him as a hick.
    — Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
  • So a bunch of hicks from Topeka were left up to our own devices of going down to Robert Hall and finding something that might be kind of cool.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of hick
Adjective
  • The other, in quite clumsy English, requested a very careful renovation of Ingmar Bergman’s house on the island of Fårö, in Sweden.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
  • He was saved by the presence nearby of Lisandro Martinez, but the challenge was so unorthodox, clumsy and deliberate that many referees would have cautioned the defender.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of clumsy
Noun
  • Simply put, the small-town bumpkins from North Florida who support this idea should be made to pay for it.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Clifton loved motorcycles and, as Hawkins said, was a country bumpkin who loved nature.
    — Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
Definition of bumpkin

Browse Nearby Words

rusted
rustic
rusticity
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Cite this Entry

“Rustic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rustic. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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