URBANITY Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

urbanity

noun

Definition of urbanity

as in cosmopolitanism

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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 urbanity Catherine’s house doesn’t evoke Hyde Park brownstones, or even urbanity, so much as some generic Midwest vista, which is not right for this play. — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026 And with many of us wound up in concrete urbanity, the livestreams offer instant transportation to the wild. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026 Advertisement Mamdani’s vision of an equitable, affordable urbanity emerges as a challenge to this long history of abandonment and exclusion. — Fahad Zuberi, Time, 5 Nov. 2025 In Otsuki’s collection, elements of the Japanese salaryman mixed with the urbanity of Gere’s Julian Kay create a compelling blend of references that ultimately play to each designer’s strength. — Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for urbanity

Recent Examples of Synonyms for urbanity

Noun

Although his roles were ostensibly romantic leads, Astaire had an almost radically unorthodox appeal—one that, in its urbanity, cosmopolitanism, elegance, and grace, challenged the prevailing standards for male movie stardom.

— David Hajdu, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
Colorful glass lamps from Turkey These were purchased at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul—a city Field has visited numerous times and enjoys for its cosmopolitanism—while scouting for Sex and the City II.

— Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of cosmopolitanism

Noun

To join the tide of anti-intellectualism that refuses to take this seriously or rise to the challenge of doing so, as Tate has done with this exhibition, is a grave shame.

— Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
One fascination of this brave book—brave in its disclosures but more so in its demands, its spiritual rigor, and its ardent intellectualism—lies in watching the eloquent, intelligent sufferer steadily entrapping herself.

— James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of intellectualism

Noun

Still, according to numbers from University of Miami education researcher and professor Bruce Baker, the percentage of English language learners served by Success Academy is much lower than New York City district schools.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
Most of the money would have been used to backfill federal funding cuts to healthcare, and 10% would have gone toward education and food-assistance programs.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of education

Noun

That kind of cynicism is cheap and facile and masquerades as intelligence and erudition.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Longworth’s deep research, erudition, and spectacularly precise elocution have made the now-indie podcast essential storytelling for cinephiles.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 23 July 2026

Definition of erudition

Noun

Similarly, after the traumas of the Civil War and Reconstruction, some Southern writers emphasized aberrant behavior to undercut the aristocratic whitewash of gentility and custom.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Neil Fuentes, a founder of the New Haven Academy of Performing Arts and the artistic director of Broadway on Main, brings an uncommon gentility and hearty spirit to the character of Murray the Cop.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of gentility

Noun

Rather than giving direct answers, the company said, AI Mode will provide a step-by-step breakdown of the problem to avoid short-circuiting learning.

— Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 12 Nov. 2026
But her belief in the permeable and cumulative nature of identity enables Courtney to reckon with her mistakes as part of a process of learning, rather than immovable indicators of good or bad character.

— Jamie Hood, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of learning

Noun

The school’s years-long redesign took the facility from 25 students to 60 and classrooms from 5 to 12, adding on amenities like a therapeutic pool, rooftop outdoor classroom and literacy commons.

— Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 10 Nov. 2026
This story about math-civics literacy was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education.

— Ismar Volić, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of literacy

Browse Nearby Words

urbanites

urbanity

urbanize

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“Urbanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urbanity. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of urbanity

noun

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