ordinary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈȯr-də-ˌner-ē How to pronounce ordinary (audio)
Definition of ordinarynext
1
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events it was a perfectly ordinary and undistinguished shirt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decent
of average to below average quality the pizza at that restaurant is just ordinary—it's nothing to write home about

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in usual
often observed or encountered an ordinary hairstyle for boys of that age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ordinary

2 of 2

noun

as in commonplace

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Dissimilar Words

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How does the adjective ordinary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ordinary are common, familiar, plain, popular, and vulgar. While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

an ordinary pleasant summer day
a very ordinary sort of man

When would common be a good substitute for ordinary?

While in some cases nearly identical to ordinary, common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

a common error
lacked common honesty
common manners

When is it sensible to use familiar instead of ordinary?

Although the words familiar and ordinary have much in common, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

Where would plain be a reasonable alternative to ordinary?

The words plain and ordinary can be used in similar contexts, but plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

In what contexts can popular take the place of ordinary?

While the synonyms popular and ordinary are close in meaning, popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.

a writer of popular romances

How do vulgar and popular relate to one another, in the sense of ordinary?

Vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).

souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

How does the adjective ordinary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ordinary are common, familiar, plain, popular, and vulgar. While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

an ordinary pleasant summer day
a very ordinary sort of man

When would common be a good substitute for ordinary?

While in some cases nearly identical to ordinary, common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

a common error
lacked common honesty
common manners

When is it sensible to use familiar instead of ordinary?

Although the words familiar and ordinary have much in common, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

Where would plain be a reasonable alternative to ordinary?

The words plain and ordinary can be used in similar contexts, but plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

In what contexts can popular take the place of ordinary?

While the synonyms popular and ordinary are close in meaning, popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.

a writer of popular romances

How do vulgar and popular relate to one another, in the sense of ordinary?

Vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).

souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

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 ordinary
Adjective
Lacey said Washington was having an ordinary morning in his final moments—sitting on the couch, drinking coffee, and watching TV before going to work at Chipotle. —Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026 At the same time, the ordinary voters — those with jobs, childcare responsibilities, disabilities or scheduling conflicts — are largely excluded. —Doug Friednash, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
The couple have often walked red carpets together, so it certainly wouldn’t be considered out of the ordinary for the 37-year-old to walk the Golden Globes red carpet alongside her beau as his plus-one. —Sam Reed, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2025 These pieces can transform one’s daily bathing ritual from an ordinary to a spa-like experience. —Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 1 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for ordinary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordinary
  1. normal
  2. decent
  3. usual
  4. commonplace
  5. average
  6. medium
  7. ubiquitous
  8. rule
Adjective
  • Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, said Trump’s attempts to bypass the normal confirmation processes are unconstitutional.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
  • According to the study, it is encoded in the internal structure of the remnant through what physicists call quasi-normal modes.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • But there were a few decent ones.
    — Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 1 Apr. 2026
  • That’s because this winter brought decent rain and the three years prior were wet, too.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • The deeper layers of your soul may feel much nearer to the surface than usual.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 Apr. 2026
  • With speed on the right wing as essentially a pure winger rather than her usual right-back role, Oke gave Reign’s defense fits, especially when another midfielder joined and created overloads.
    — Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of usual
Noun
  • By the time Szeemann was invited to organize two consecutive installments of the Venice Biennale (in 1999 and 2001), the criticism of curators’ assuming the role of meta-artists, in Szeemann’s case with quasi-shamanistic aspirations, had become a commonplace.
    — Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • But little things can turn the commonplace into tragedy.
    — Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of commonplace
Adjective
  • Precipitation is currently about 90 percent of average, boosted by strong winter storms in December.
    — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The average cost of mold remediation is about $2,300, according to Angi, a home services marketplace.
    — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of average
Adjective
  • What once seemed a marginal asset now appears increasingly vital over the medium term.
    — Boris Muñoz, Time, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Considered a small to medium tree, the serviceberry averages about 15 feet, but can stretch to 25 feet in ideal conditions.
    — Campbell Vaughn, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of medium
Adjective
  • The dog is one of the two most ubiquitous and most popular domestic animals in the world (the cat is the other).
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Even Grignon is surprised at how ubiquitous the iPhone has become.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of ubiquitous
Noun
  • Accessibility In accordance with Japan’s progressive rules for handicap accessibility, all floors are accessible with wide elevator access, lower level buttons reachable from wheelchairs, and wheelchair accessible bathrooms on the restaurant level.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The flight was intended for the training pilot to receive instruction in basic visual flight rules and included going over downtown Fort Lauderdale, the report said.
    — Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of rule

Browse Nearby Words

ordinariness
ordinary
ordination
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Cite this Entry

“Ordinary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordinary. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ordinary

Nglish: Translation of ordinary for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ordinary

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