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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective typical differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of typical are natural, normal, and regular. While all these words mean "being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average," typical implies showing all important traits of a type, class, or group and may suggest lack of strong individuality.

a typical small town

When is it sensible to use natural instead of typical?

While in some cases nearly identical to typical, natural applies to what conforms to a thing's essential nature, function, or mode of being.

the natural love of a mother for her child

When can normal be used instead of typical?

The words normal and typical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, normal implies lack of deviation from what has been discovered or established as the most usual or expected.

normal behavior for a two-year-old

When would regular be a good substitute for typical?

The words regular and typical can be used in similar contexts, but regular stresses conformity to a rule, standard, or pattern.

the club's regular monthly meeting

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 typical Coaches spend Tuesday of a typical game week building the game plan. Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025 In the metro, temperatures will climb to around 87 degrees on Wednesday afternoon, compared to Kansas City’s typical early September high temperatures around 80 degrees. Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025 If the typical harvest color palette is not your style, there’s finally a solution to finding festive fall decor that’s not orange. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025 The actress was seen on set in London for her new film, Anxious People, sporting a light blonde bob — a significant change of pace from her typical long brunette locks, though in recent months she's shifted towards a lighter hue. Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for typical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for typical
Adjective
  • Magnesium is needed to transport potassium and calcium across cell membranes and maintain normal heart rhythms.
    Jennifer Lefton, Verywell Health, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The weather when the sailor went missing were close to normal, according to Sky News Australia's Senior Meteorologist Rob Sharpe.
    Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The characteristic fragrance results from a complex mixture of chemicals that can actually impact our health.
    Anan Bishara, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • But the other one, closer to the compact subcluster, was smaller and had a characteristic bow shock shape, a dull cone similar to the wake left behind as a ship moves through water.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That is, the group enables Hamas to be both arsonist and firefighter, enhancing its control and reach into the lives of average, everyday Palestinians in Gaza.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • When users search for flights on Google Flights, the search engine will say if the fares or lower, higher or average for that route.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s no barbecue in Georgia quite like Fresh Air’s, and no restaurant better represents the state’s storied and distinctive style.
    Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The brands that survive won’t be the most polished—they’ll be the most distinctive.
    Erik Huberman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • And other components of the modern income tax — especially the standard deduction — have reshaped the SALT deduction and its importance over time.
    Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The ground beef topping is like a cross between standard taco meat and bean-less chili.
    Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • After the very recent birth of their child, Un has taken a break from the all-consuming demands of restaurateuring to attend to the entirely distinct all-consuming demands of early parenthood.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
  • After monitoring them for two years, the researchers directly observed the birth of two different species of males with distinct genomes from a single queen.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Many of Garmin’s usual non-connected features are present in the Bounce 2 as well.
    Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Temperatures will remain warmer than usual for this time of year, with highs climbing to the upper 80s or near 90 degrees in the metro area.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Early in the novel, Harold points out that authors are constantly looking for ways to bury their true beliefs in their text, rather than state them outright.
    Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Like many Stephen King stories, the truest horrors are the ones that exist in reality.
    James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Typical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/typical. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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