Synonym Chooser

How is the word habitual distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of habitual are accustomed, customary, usual, and wonted. While all these words mean "familiar through frequent or regular repetition," habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

How does the word accustomed relate to other synonyms for habitual?

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

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

When can customary be used instead of habitual?

The meanings of customary and habitual largely overlap; however, 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 would usual be a good substitute for habitual?

In some situations, the words usual and habitual are roughly equivalent. However, usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

In what contexts can wonted take the place of habitual?

Although the words wonted and habitual have much in common, 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 habitual The senate’s habitual obsession with women as a threat (to conquest, power, imperial security, male dignity) cannot be overstated. Literary Hub june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025 Exclusive data shared with Fortune shows Amazon Prime shoppers’ purchases in 2024 followed habitual seasonal and social cycles, with essentials and trending items shifting throughout the year based on holidays, social-media influence, and life milestones. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 June 2025 For healthy individuals, moderate habitual coffee consumption is generally okay. Lauren O'Connor, Health, 16 June 2025 Messi was omnipresent, but Sergio Busquets struggled to make a difference in his habitual holding midfield role. Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for habitual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for habitual
Adjective
  • For those with a loved one facing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or another chronic illness, the program will help participants better understand the costs of caregiving and the benefits of early planning.
    Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
  • Over time, lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep can raise your risk of chronic (long-term) diseases.
    Laura Schober, Health, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • This flexibility has led to more frequent visits, Potbelly’s chief marketing officer, David Daniels, said.
    Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 5 July 2025
  • So people like me, a frequent flier who prefers to use any spare change on traveling, can still have that dream home and see the world.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • According to the proposal, students would not be able to receive both a workforce Pell grant and a regular Pell grant, and the workforce Pell would contribute to a student’s lifetime Pell grant maximum, which is typically about six years of coursework.
    Emma Whitford, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The Heat’s roster is still at 14 players on standard contracts — one player short of the league-wide 15-man limit for the regular season.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Traditional extract, transform and load (ETL) systems—built for periodic batch jobs—fall short in these contexts.
    Shinoy Vengaramkode Bhaskaran, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
  • Beyond that, periodic chances of showers and storms will continue throughout the rest of the week.
    Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • For example, if repeated dissatisfaction is reported regarding AI's support when answering a particular customer question, AI can flag the pattern.
    Fabio Sattolo, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • Your dog was drinking more water to try and maintain hydration but once the stomach is irritated enough to keep vomiting, a cause needs to be identified, and medications are needed to stop the repeated vomiting.
    Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 8 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Habitual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/habitual. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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