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usual

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word usual distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of usual are accustomed, customary, habitual, and wonted. While all these words mean "familiar through frequent or regular repetition," usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

How is accustomed related to other words for usual?

Accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

In what contexts can customary take the place of usual?

The words customary and usual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

When could habitual be used to replace usual?

Although the words habitual and usual have much in common, habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

When is wonted a more appropriate choice than usual?

The words wonted and usual can be used in similar contexts, but wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

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 usual
Adjective
Ebonē Colbert ordered her usual on her weekly trip to Wendy's with her son: a kid’s meal with a plain cheeseburger for him and a Dave’s Single, a burger topped with lettuce and tomato, for herself. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022 On the first day back, Evans ordered his usual: a single cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022
Noun
Your usual routine could suddenly be interrupted. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025 The Toronto Blue Jays' usual three-time Gold Glove second baseman is now their shortstop, thanks to the injury to starter Bo Bichette. Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for usual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usual
Adjective
  • As a result, embodied emissions, e-waste, and the administrative burden of the conventional hardware refresh cycle are greatly reduced.
    Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Broiler Basics & Heat Intensity Unlike conventional oven baking, which uses indirect heat, a broiler produces direct, concentrated heat from above—essentially like an upside-down grill inside your oven.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
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
  • Now, drones are ubiquitous on the front lines.
    Joseph Nepomuceno, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Its floral and stripe prints have transcended fashion, and have become ubiquitous with Finland, ultimately becoming key symbols of the country's creative identity.
    Stephan Rabimov, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Alila Napa Valley goes beyond the ordinary by offering unforgettable experiences designed to captivate modern travelers, especially Xennials.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • Agbadou has appeared sluggish and careless at the heart of defence, while Andre has lacked his customary composure in midfield.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • But the customary podium ceremony was canceled because of the unrest.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This isn’t your typical AI use case.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The battery is said to last eight hours of typical use, and the charging case will now provide an extra 48 hours of battery on top.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Holly, who did not share her last name, posed in the familiar tourist style—appearing to hold up the tilted tower.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The fantastic is used to sketch out familiar story lines, but the metaphysical premise remains as vague as the dramatic stakes in the lives of the characters.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • See rules for Competitive Wordle toward the end of this post.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The Spanish competition’s salary limit rules basically set the amount of money teams are allowed to spend on player’s wages.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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