outback

noun

ˈau̇t-ˈbak How to pronounce outback (audio)
Definition of outbacknext
as in countryside
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country people who live in the Australian outback tend to be self-sufficient

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 outback Observe black cockatoos preen in the drooping she-oaks, or marvel at the Dali-esque outback, filled with its skeletal mallee trees. — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026 Once the work is complete, the capsule reenters the atmosphere at some 18,000 miles per hour, parachuting down with a bump in the Australian outback. — Ramin Skibba, Scientific American, 15 May 2026 The Deb dispute is playing out across different fronts in Los Angeles and Australia, overshadowing the feel-good movie about outback teens attending a debutante ball. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026 The changes bring a bit of the Australian outback to the zoo for koalas, which are an endangered species. — Cody Jackson, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outback
  1. countryside
  2. bush
  3. frontier
  4. hinterland
  5. country
  6. backcountry
  7. backwater
Noun
  • Best Natural-Material Pillow The Six Bells Inn brings its cozy countryside aesthetic all the way to the bed, outfitting its guest rooms with Ostermoor mattresses, pillows, and duvets.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Located on a quiet lane, a stay here offers the best of the UK countryside with rolling hills and farmland on one side.
    — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of countryside
Noun
  • In the fourth grade, Laura had suggested that the Jackrabbits’s meet in the loft rather than in the buggy bushes behind her house, but Carrie had refused.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Everywhere are cosseting details like stiffer mounting bushes and extra damping bars.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of bush
Noun
  • The largest funding rounds are going to the frontier labs and companies doing AI research.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Near La Guajira’s border with Venezuela, the only police station for miles is a one-story, half-finished building in Castilletes, a few hundred meters from the frontier.
    — Nathan Jaccard, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of frontier
Noun
  • In any event, relocating an entertainment behemoth out of California, to some entertainment hinterland like those states, would be more complicated and certainly costly than staying put.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • At the very least, regionalism marked a spatial recalibration in the literary imaginary, away from European metropoles and national capitals and toward rural hinterlands.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of hinterland
Noun
  • These countries will face the costs of aging at much lower income levels than the advanced economies that aged before them, the report says, noting that in Europe, the same shift took several decades.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Some Southeast Asian countries are trying to leverage their strengths to capture more of the value chain.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • The Monterey County Sheriff's Office reminds those venturing into the backcountry to know their limitations and prepare before departing.
    — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • In a statement, the sheriff's office urged hikers, particularly those exploring the backcountry, to know their limits and prepare before heading out.
    — Tim Fang, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of backcountry
Noun
  • Navigate the biodiverse backwaters of Choctawhatchee Bay or visit Destin, the perfect beach town for kiteboarding and snorkeling.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • No one predicted the sleepy backwater of Sassnitz would be rebranded ‘Crashnitz’ or ‘Smashnitz’ by the end of the first edition of the German Sail Grand Prix last year.
    — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of backwater

Browse Nearby Words

out at elbows
outback
outbalance
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Cite this Entry

“Outback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outback. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on outback

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about outback

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