1
2

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 Gabriel isn’t your typical rookie. Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025 Their cost for a typical plan would more than double without the extra subsidies, from $86 a month to $218 for a popular plan. Margot Sanger-Katz, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 The way the plume spread and its lasting brightness indicate a high altitude above 100 km (62 miles), typical for medium- to intercontinental-range missile tests. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025 Opponents said Antoni — who has spent most of his career at right-wing think tanks — lacked the expertise in statistical number crunching that's typical of previous BLS commissioners. Scott Horsley, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for typical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for typical
Adjective
  • Inflammation is a normal response to strength training, when muscle fibers develop small tears.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Turmeric has not been proven to lower blood sugar in individuals with normal baseline levels.
    Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The squeals, heavy breathing, and tail thrashing of the headline attraction, the ominous pitter-patter of a chestburster scuttling across the floor, and the characteristic crunch of a chestburster smashing through an unfortunate ribcage are all integral to the extra-terrestrial horror.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025
  • If the Supreme Court officially makes the chief executive a unitary executive, the advancement of the public good may depend on little more than the whims of the president, a state of affairs normally more characteristic of dictatorship than democracy.
    Graham G. Dodds, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Residents here have above average educational backgrounds and the higher incomes that accompany them.
    John Wisely, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • While the average cruise length is around seven days, short sailings can pack an entire vacation’s worth of fun into a mid-week getaway or long weekend.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ross, with his distinctive afro, soothing voice and sunny outlook, empowered millions of viewers to make and appreciate art through his show The Joy of Painting.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Because the brand has not had a particularly distinctive point of view for several seasons, Dario Vitale successfully mixed it up with very retro references, a youthful exuberance, and separated his point of view from his predecessor, Donatella.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • So folding in those salaries along with pre-arb salaries and all the other standard stuff, like player benefits and minor-league salaries, should add another $50 million.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • These devices emit bursts of electromagnetic energy across multiple bands, effectively blinding or hijacking most standard FPV drones that depend on Wi-Fi or radio.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • One site, as reported by Phys, had a distinct path, whereas another lacked these types of markers.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Among the most popular are Scorpios, Macakizi, and Xuma Village, each offering its own distinct energy, style, and soundtrack.
    Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Last season, in Game 5 of the Panthers’ second-round series against Toronto, Boqvist finished with a goal and an assist with Rodrigues injured and played alongside Barkov and Sam Reinhart on Florida’s top line after moving up from his usual spot on the fourth line.
    Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2025
  • NBCUniversal has locked in its usual Monday kickoff week to upfronts week in New York, confirming May 11 as the date of its main presentation to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Watching my great-grandmother, grandmother, mother and aunt serve as loyal members of this sorority shaped my understanding of what true sisterhood and service look like.
    Essence, Essence, 3 Oct. 2025
  • With markets looking unperturbed, that might turn out true sooner if nothing serious comes in the way of the bulls.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Typical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/typical. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on typical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!