1
as in natives
a usually longtime resident of a locality
the townies are dismayed that all the venerable manses around the village green are being bought as vacation homes by rich interlopers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in citizens
a person who lives in a town on a permanent basis
the university board met with an association representing the townies to figure out a solution to the problems created by off-campus parties
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 townies
These were not preppy tourist kids but townies with townie buzz cuts.
—
Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
In the episode's final moments, Clint and several bloodthirsty townies descend upon the Black Spot with guns.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
The firm stand against gentrification taken in its onscreen narrative, about middle-class townies crowding out longstanding local businesses, also felt indicative of Jenkins’ place in a film industry intent on adopting newer, slicker, more commercial methods.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Scripted Set in the doomsday-fearing year 1999, The WONDERfools is a comedy action adventure that follows a group of awkward townies who unexpectedly gain superpowers and take on villains threatening the peace of Haeseong City.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
In the episode's final moments, Clint and several bloodthirsty townies descend upon the Black Spot with guns.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
The firm stand against gentrification taken in its onscreen narrative, about middle-class townies crowding out longstanding local businesses, also felt indicative of Jenkins’ place in a film industry intent on adopting newer, slicker, more commercial methods.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Scripted Set in the doomsday-fearing year 1999, The WONDERfools is a comedy action adventure that follows a group of awkward townies who unexpectedly gain superpowers and take on villains threatening the peace of Haeseong City.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for townies
Noun
-
The event not only drew Czech natives, but also people like Maria Wyatt, who lives a couple of minutes away from the stadium.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2026
-
One school of thought holds that high levels of immigration and a robust social safety net are incompatible; natives don’t want to share their nation’s generosity with foreigners.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Analysts say not enough is being done by the government to protect its citizens, despite promises by President Bola Tinubu to curb the crisis.—
Dyepkazah Shibayan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
-
The fair’s ceremony—usually with around 50 new citizens—feels especially intimate.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Ohio pays nursing homes a daily rate for Medicaid residents and provides additional payments to facilities that meet certain quality benchmarks.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
-
To Crowley and Dixit, their multispecies map is a natural extension of this worldview by identifying places meaningful to Penryn’s nonhuman residents and visitors.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Stritt said that relations with villagers have improved.—
Jessi Jezewska Stevens,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
-
The quake also triggered a landslide in Glan, a municipality in the province of Sarangani, that killed 13 villagers, Rene Punzalan, a provincial disaster-mitigation official, told the DZBB radio network.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Townies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/townies. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
