Definition of usualnext
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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
Just pick a few up during your usual weekly grocery shopping. Aly Walansky, Southern Living, 2 July 2026 But Beckham switched up her usual look with the addition of an off-white lace slip, which ever so slightly flared out from beneath her hem, like a flower beginning to bloom. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 2 July 2026
Noun
On the first floor, in the back corner of the hotel, there also was a small cafe, a fashion-week usual for the house. Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 Someone’s pouring your usual, sending you to sleep with a bustling soundtrack, or simply offering a comforting anchor in a sprawling, occasionally overwhelming metropolis. Maggie Hennessy, Chicago Tribune, 26 Oct. 2022 See All Example Sentences for usual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usual
Adjective
  • But cruise missiles are more versatile in conventional warfare.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026
  • The majority of Georgian wine reaching export markets is made in what producers call the European style — stainless steel fermentation, conventional winemaking, easily approachable.
    Michelle Williams, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Shah adds that many women feel their best when ferritin levels are at least between 40 and 70 ng/ml for optimal energy and hair health, even if lab ranges suggest lower levels are ‘normal’.
    Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 30 June 2026
  • People are being asked to have their trash and recycling at the curb at least one hour prior to their normal pickup time.
    Mike Darnay, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • When World Cup season descends upon soccer-mad Brazil, green and yellow banners decorate restaurants, bars and apartment buildings, streets are painted with flags and soccer balls, and discussions of the beloved national team's games are ubiquitous.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • Already this year, the elusive-yet-ubiquitous producer is credited on Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE’s POMPEII // UTILITY, a song with Compton’s $amaad, and an ambient instrumental tape.
    Oba Awolowo, Pitchfork, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • When crafting client success stories, look for the beautiful ordinary.
    Richard Lowe, Forbes.com, 9 June 2026
  • Williams’ gift for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary was inspired by his interactions with his patients.
    René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • With no clear evidence and an unreliable witness, a community governed by customary law must preserve peace without sacrificing another child.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 29 June 2026
  • Otherwise, just about every single starting lineup graphic this season has included a picture of a player, which is customary around the league.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • Treatments start at $49, which is a bargain compared to typical pest control treatments that cost nearly three times that amount.
    Alora Bopray, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The rules called for the combatants to square off with just eight paces between them — rather than the 20 or 30 paces typical of the time — and both men hit their targets.
    Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Unlike scenic destinations that become part of a wedding backdrop, Walshe said Madison Square Garden presents the opposite challenge because designers would first have to erase the venue's familiar arena feel before creating something entirely new.
    Lauryn Overhultz , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • From there, Florida's history followed the path more familiar to Americans, eventually becoming the 27th state in 1845.
    Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • The board removed its previous time limit rule at public comment sessions during board meetings when more than 20 speakers are signed up.
    Samuel O’Neal June 25, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026
  • For county-specific labels like Napa or Sonoma, the 75% rule applies.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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