backwoods 1 of 2

plural noun

ˈbak-ˈwu̇dz How to pronounce backwoods (audio)
Definition of backwoodsnext
as in countryside
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country lived far out in the backwoods and raised hogs for a living

Synonyms & Similar Words

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backwoods

2 of 2

adjective

as in rural

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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 backwoods
Adjective
The Curse of Buckout Road Witches burning at the stake, backwoods albino killers and a modern day stalker prove to be more than urban legends on this New York state byway. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2019 The weekend gets going on Friday with music from Gator Nate, the lovable backwoods yahoo and role model for many a UF pledge. — Ben Crandell, sun-sentinel.com, 22 Aug. 2019 Clustered among pine forests and sunny prairies along scenic backwoods roads 20 miles south of town, Perkins Tank and JD Dam Lake comprise a water-centric tour of the Kaibab National Forest’s southern sector. — Mare Czinar, azcentral, 5 July 2019 Think of the backwoods ranger and Minuteman, the Confederate cavalry officer, the flying ace of World War I, the commando, the Green Beret and SEAL. — John F. Ross, WSJ, 4 June 2019 See All Example Sentences for backwoods
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backwoods
  1. rural
  2. provincial
  3. countrified
  4. country
  5. bucolic
Adjective
  • From rural communities to large cities, pushback against the initiatives of Silicon Valley is forming a unique coalition of liberals and conservatives.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The Bordeaux region has slowed rural building too, but fire danger from the pines remains extremely high, said Claire Aragau, the professor at the Paris School of Urban Planning who led the study.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of rural
Adjective
  • The project’s latest provincial award now adds further recognition as engineers continue to expand the practical limits of long-span concrete bridge construction.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Los Angeles Times reported that the provincial leaders agreed.
    — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of provincial
Adjective
  • Lines that seem artlessly off-the-cuff on first pass accrue an unexpected weight and purpose the fourth time through; the countrified guitar lick that sounds so chipper at the start of a song is dripping with melancholy by the end.
    — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 4 June 2026
  • Timed to coincide with Cactus League spring training, the countrified Innings Fest offshoot is in its third year, bringing 20 artists with no overlapping sets to two main stages.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of countrified
Adjective
  • But also multi-country emigration tales, as in Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Previous World Cups were concentrated within one nation, but this year supporters often crossed international borders, making the multi-country experience part of the tournament's appeal.
    — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of country
Adjective
  • This is the ultimate bucolic New England getaway for families, couples, and groups of friends.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Beaverbrook, a bucolic five-star country house hotel composed of a main manor house and storybook-style individual cottages.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of bucolic

Browse Nearby Words

backwater
backwoods
backwoodsman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backwoods.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backwoods. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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