PROVINCIAL Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

provincial 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of provincial

as in parochial

not broad or open in views or opinions some people regard a fear of new things as an unmistakable sign of a provincial attitude

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

provincial

2 of 2

noun

prə-ˈvin(t)-shəl

as in peasant

an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country the confidence man figured that fleecing these provincials would be easy

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 provincial

Adjective

In truth, Canada could shut down those power links and leave thousands of Americans in the dark, as Ontario provincial Premier Doug Ford threatened in August 2026. — Stefano Tijerina, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026 Instead, voters will decide whether the provincial government should begin the legal process required to hold a future referendum on independence. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 18 Oct. 2026

Noun

Sanders is a Catholic priest and former Augustinian provincial in California and lives in the Augustinian community in North Park. — Gary Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025 The same year, he was appointed as a provincial for the order. — Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for provincial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for provincial

Adjective

Cooke’s more convincing charge is that Deletionism has kept Wikipedia parochial.

— Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
For Bourne, newspapers, besides giving information, encourage an acceptance of non-parochial views.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of parochial

Adjective

Manfred says small-market success is rare, while the union argues the Rays-Brewers World Series matchup shows baseball can work without a cap.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Massachusetts ranks third for the annual cost of raising a small child but 18th over 18 years.

— Martie Bowser, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of small

Noun

When Johnson was vice president and visiting Europe, there were reports filed by these British ambassadors in several countries that basically made fun of him as a hick.

— Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
So a bunch of hicks from Topeka were left up to our own devices of going down to Robert Hall and finding something that might be kind of cool.

— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026

Definition of hick

Adjective

The debut show from the pact, about the disappearance of Spanish petty criminal El Nani, remains in development, Corral confirmed.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
Before the arrival of the Sisters of Mary Morning Star, the death row inmates had been plagued by petty infighting.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of petty

Noun

Kerry learned this the hard way after allowing Jordan to question what appeared to be a local yokel over the mysterious shooting at a Rushville high school football game.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026
It was left to the feds in Boston to arrest Farwell, after Meatball’s local yokels adamantly refused to do anything other than try to broom the crime by one of their own.

— Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026

Definition of yokel

Adjective

Those qualities are attractive, but concentrating exclusively on them directs many investors toward the same narrow set of service companies.

— Chris Russo, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2026
The winning architecture is a stack of narrow intelligences pointed at what each one is good at, coordinated through a harness that knows which one to use when.

— Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of narrow

Noun

That’s not to jinx the master clown who’s currently doddering around in Argan’s shoes on Broadway.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
In several descriptions of these amateur events, including some of his own, Hemingway sounds less like a matador than a rodeo clown.

— Stephen Bates, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of clown

Browse Nearby Words

provinces

provincial

provincialism

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Style

“Provincial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provincial. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of provincial

adjective

noun

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