Definition of ruralnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 rural The disease is common in these rural fishing villages where residents rely on freshwater for daily living. William McCarthy, NPR, 4 July 2026 Particularly for day trips to more rural areas, be sure to check the departure time for your last train so you don’t get stranded. Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026 One of my favorite examples is the old tradition of barn raising in rural America. Ashok N. Srivastava, Fortune, 3 July 2026 Most of the rest of the larger wildfires so far in California have occurred in rural parts of Kern and Riverside counties. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rural
Adjective
  • Rodeos in rural Australia are more modest affairs, with distinct cultural origins rooted in pastoral stations and country towns.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • Melinda Moore, a psychology professor at Eastern Kentucky University, noted that most clergy and faith leaders receive little or no training in pastoral care for those who are suicidal or suicide-bereaved.
    Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Adjective
  • The company operates a multi-country manufacturing platform with more than 20 production facilities in Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
    Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 26 June 2026
  • The efforts are part of a multi-country response and preparedness plan that also covers Uganda, South Sudan and other neighboring countries.
    Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • The interior design mirrors the rustic aesthetic and is finished in drywall, with wooden trim, plus vinyl plank flooring.
    Adam Williams July 04, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
  • This rustic teak love seat can work in lots of spaces, like on the perimeter of your garden or outside your shed, while the modern Brighton rug is perfect for streamlining an outdoor conversation set.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 3 July 2026
Adjective
  • Everything about this verdant, bucolic space is antithetical to the fog, fire, and wide-open, sprawling moors that have so far dominated the movie.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • But the bucolic setting quickly won him over.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rural. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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