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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
Kate Jerde, Architectural Digest, 28 Dec. 2025
Jessica Gerardi, a long-time British Vogue fashion editor with Italian roots, exchanged vows in an olive grove at a rustic stone farmhouse in Umbria.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rustic
Noun
Keep the gravy rustic and serve it as is, or go smooth and blend until creamy.
—Adjective
For a rustic home library, for example, Bertuglia created chunky oak bookshelves with leather straps that wrap around the tops of shelves to secure books in place.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for rustic
Noun
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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.—
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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.—
Adjective
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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.—
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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.—
Adjective
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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.—
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The rural highway was closed in both directions while the crash was investigated and the wreckage cleared.—
Noun
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Sanders is a Catholic priest and former Augustinian provincial in California and lives in the Augustinian community in North Park.—
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The same year, he was appointed as a provincial for the order.—
Adjective
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Neighbors fear rising violence Residents said the shooting has left them uneasy.—
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But by evening, an uneasy calm had settled across the city.—
Noun
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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.—
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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.—
Adjective
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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.—
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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.—
Noun
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Clifton loved motorcycles and, as Hawkins said, was a country bumpkin who loved nature.—
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Ma and Pa Kent are the most stereotypical country bumpkins imaginable.—
Cite this Entry
“Rustic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rustic. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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