1
as in grind
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity
part of my morning routine is drinking a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
1
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events
this is just a routine inspection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in formal
following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules
the routine procedure for filing a complaint with the board
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in usual
often observed or encountered
the movie is a routine thriller that has little to recommend it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of routine
Dominic Cadogan, Glamour, 14 May 2026
Shake up your rice routine with this delicious rice-and-noodle pilaf.
—Lucinda Scala Quinn, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026
Clarissa Windham-Bradstock, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
The routine test flight took place just hours after the base hosted the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 of the company's Starlink broadband satellites.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for routine
Noun
Gungor says beginning with a lower dose before gradually increasing is the best way to introduce lemon balm into your nighttime routine.
—Dominic Cadogan, Glamour, 14 May 2026
Shake up your rice routine with this delicious rice-and-noodle pilaf.
—Lucinda Scala Quinn, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026
Adjective
Employees pay a monthly fee directly to the doctor, bypassing insurance entirely for routine care.
—Clarissa Windham-Bradstock, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
The routine test flight took place just hours after the base hosted the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 of the company's Starlink broadband satellites.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for routine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for routine
Noun
-
Take a break from the daily grind.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
This is a crucial week to brainstorm, be strategic, and get on the grind to climb the corporate ladder.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
In an interview with the website Public Parking, the writer Lucy Ives describes ad-libbing a writing exercise to kill an awkward classroom silence.—
David O’Neill,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
-
This is an exercise in making a mess and having fun, and then cleaning it up and making meaning, and then doing that all again three times.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
But as the debate gains national attention, more families argue that acknowledging biological differences is not an act of hatred.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
The act, the first piece of legislation focused on crypto, would add oversight and guardrails to the new industry.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
That means less cement per meter—on this bridge roughly 40% less concrete—while still reaching normal strength.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
One patient retained normal core disgust reactivity but could no longer recognize disgust in others’ faces; another with anterior insula damage showed dysregulation in both producing and experiencing disgust.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Many other people reject formal education (for other people, though usually not for their own kids) as unnecessary to attaining the highest ranks of wealth and power.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
But, the grande dame here is the two-bedroom Alii Royal suite ($26,000 a night) with an open living and dining space, a formal seating area, a library, and three private balconies.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Cavs, who were bounced in five games out of the second round last year, were 15-14 in late December and battling their usual mix of injuries.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
General Daily Insight for May 17, 2026 Fresh thinking moves faster than our usual filters today.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Finch put his finger on the trouble during one of the regular-season ruts, identifying a moodiness that gets in the way of the type of surgical execution of game plans that the defending champion Oklahoma City and now San Antonio can consistently lean on.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
-
Then, Popkins said, Guerrero hit a rut.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Eco effort The hotel employs single-stream recycling and green housekeeping practices, and also has a green roof ecosystem to reduce the building’s heat load.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
-
Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday told lower courts to take another look at a pair of cases involving whether private individuals and groups can sue to enforce a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that prohibits discriminatory voting practices.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Routine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routine. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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