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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
But something clearly wrong with Aroldis Chapman, whose fastball was four miles per hour slower than usual. Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 27 July 2025 On Saturday, Trump got slapped with a bit of payback when a group of protesters dubbing themselves the Disabled Resistance invaded the glitzy lobby of Trump Tower and staged a raucous rally that went on a bit longer than usual for such affairs. Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 27 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for usual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usual
Adjective
  • Dongfang, which enjoyed a 45% share in the conventional hydropower market, could rake in as much as 54 billion yuan from the new project, according to Lau.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 23 July 2025
  • The Male Opportunity Here’s where conventional understanding of resale may miss the mark: men are driving resale adoption more aggressively than women.
    Kristen Classi-Zummo, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • As volatility becomes the new normal, many leaders feel compelled to act faster, control more or push harder.
    Gamini Hewawasam, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
  • The results are limited to changes in normal brain aging, not Alzheimer's disease.
    Jon Hamilton, NPR, 28 July 2025
Adjective
  • After a long career of wear-and-tear where Hogan was ubiquitous as the face of WWE and pro wrestling, surgeries became the norm for the former six-time WWE champion.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • Magnetic reconnection is ubiquitous throughout the Universe, and the same physical processes produce solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the Sun.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 24 July 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
  • The court did not explain its decision in favor of Trump, as is customary in emergency appeals.
    Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • In a sport where sunglasses haven’t been customary on the pro tour, RIA Eyewear entered the space five years ago with a tennis-specific lens and frame, steadily building a bridge between the world of tennis and sunglasses.
    Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • On a recent Friday morning, a group of half a dozen neighbors and business owners in Fountain Square gathered near Leonard Street, looking prepared for a typical neighborhood cleanup.
    Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 July 2025
  • Table 1 below shows the typical rally legs within a bull market are around 11% with the average a bit higher at 14%.
    Randy Watts, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • That’s especially true in the playoffs, as individual experience and minutes on the floor with familiar pieces are natural catalysts for team success.
    Nick Crain, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • While these are all individual cases, experiencing a down period after such a high is a familiar scenario among elite sportspeople.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • What if my neighbor doesn't follow Milwaukee's rules about weeds and grass?
    Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 25 July 2025
  • Her charges, as a rule, have been greatly comforted in their final moments.
    Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 24 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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