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
Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
The only question is whether the 5-foot-2 Liu might add a high-scoring triple Axel to the routine.
—Elliott Almond, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The reactors must also endure extreme temperature swings, radiation exposure, and micrometeoroid risks, all without routine servicing.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for routine
Noun
Yet most people use the same products for decades without adjusting their routine.
—Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
The only question is whether the 5-foot-2 Liu might add a high-scoring triple Axel to the routine.
—Elliott Almond, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
During routine inspection and maintenance, Austin Parks and Recreation and Austin Watershed Protection staff determined that a portion of the original 1940s bypass — an infrastructure feature designed to manage Barton Creek flow — is now unsupported underneath and potentially unstable.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The reactors must also endure extreme temperature swings, radiation exposure, and micrometeoroid risks, all without routine servicing.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for routine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for routine
Noun
-
Don’t put corn husks, coffee grinds, onion peels, peach pits, eggshells, bones, vegetable peels, meat scraps, grease and large amounts of pasta down the drain.—
Jessica Elliott,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Hustle culture has lost its footing, and younger generations are rejecting the grind without knowing what replaces it.—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Try adding in a few other dynamic warm-up exercises like high knees, butt kicks, and lunges for a well-rounded pre-run routine, per USA Triathlon.—
Sarah Klein,
Outside,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Physical exercise plays an important role.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There is something very classic about these acts.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The act of measurement seemingly makes this hazy quantumness go away, replaced by something definite and more in line with our experience of classical reality.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Under normal conditions, these signals go straight to the robot’s central processing unit.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Researchers around the world are now finding microplastics – tiny plastic fragments and fibers smaller than a grain of rice – in garden soils and compost products that look perfectly normal to the naked eye.—
Dr. Avishesh Neupane,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Ailsa Craig granite is so well-suited for curling that the Olympics have never used any other kind of granite in formal competition.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, an Ohio State committee is reviewing a second formal request to remove Wexner’s name from multiple campus buildings, including the football team’s practice facility.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images Amadou Onana’s usual whipping up of the crowd comes after every Aston Villa win.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Size-up to wear it as a layering piece, or stick with your usual size to wear it solo on milder days.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While in a nursing home, Ninny is visited by Evelyn Couch, a middle-aged housewife who's stuck in a rut.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Over about nine miles of dirt tracking and rut climbing in Hollister Hills, the vehicle felt right at home.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Interestingly, the characters on the coin are Chinese, even though it was produced in Japan during the mid-19th century — a common practice at the time.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
On this day, as the NHL chartered most of its Olympians to Milan and teams stepped into a rink draped in Olympic logos for practice, the dream became real.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Routine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routine. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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