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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
The result is a first-of-its-kind destination for this college town—rustic yet refined, familiar yet transportive.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 17 Nov. 2025
Gemma Price, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Inside the manor house, a rustic spread including cornetti, orange cakes, apricot pastries, homemade granola, and local cheese covers an enormous industrial-style table.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rustic
Noun
Keep the gravy rustic and serve it as is, or go smooth and blend until creamy.
—CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
The result is a first-of-its-kind destination for this college town—rustic yet refined, familiar yet transportive.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 17 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Tulum In the 1990s, Tulum was a bohemian destination for low-key spirituality and rustic cabanas backing up to dense jungle.
—Gemma Price, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Inside the manor house, a rustic spread including cornetti, orange cakes, apricot pastries, homemade granola, and local cheese covers an enormous industrial-style table.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rustic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rustic
Noun
-
Because of France’s social structure, the bulk of the financial strain fell to its peasants, while the top 1% was virtually exempt from paying taxes.—
Serena Turner,
Vanity Fair,
29 Dec. 2025
-
One of the most stunning exhibitions of the year put the spotlight on Our Lady of Guadalupe, which has a long history dating back to 1531, tied to four apparitions of the Virgin Mary to a peasant in Mexico.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Although the meeting went smoothly and led to concrete commitments, the bonhomie was strained by uncomfortable questions at a news conference about the issue hanging over the day’s diplomacy.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Rather than telegraphing trouble in paradise, the move could simply be a styling choice—or a response to high temperatures, which cause one’s hands to swell and can make wearing a ring uncomfortable.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Kogo said the rural intersection of Broward and Palm Beach counties is vulnerable because there are large snakes there, and still a good number of large prey, such as raccoons, bobcats and deer.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The rural highway was closed in both directions while the crash was investigated and the wreckage cleared.—
Kristina Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
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
Adjective
-
Neighbors fear rising violence Residents said the shooting has left them uneasy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
But by evening, an uneasy calm had settled across the city.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Which is to say, this isn’t the story of a greedy, materialistic man who suffers a crisis of conscience while trying to pry a priceless treasure away from an uneducated hick who doesn’t know any better.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Ricky develops romantic feelings for Chad even though Russ plays him as a soft-spoken, possibly dim rural hick who may well be a literal man-child.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But in that moment, my 40 years of skiing experience evaporated, and the bulletproof snow and thick crowds transformed me into an anxious and clumsy mess.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Following the adventures of the titular sheep, the franchise’s latest takes place at Mossy Bottom Farm on Halloween Eve, watching as excitement turns to dismay when the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Clifton loved motorcycles and, as Hawkins said, was a country bumpkin who loved nature.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Ma and Pa Kent are the most stereotypical country bumpkins imaginable.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rustic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rustic. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
