1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective common contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of common are familiar, ordinary, plain, popular, and vulgar. While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

a common error
lacked common honesty
common manners

When would familiar be a good substitute for common?

The words familiar and common are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

In what contexts can ordinary take the place of common?

The meanings of ordinary and common largely overlap; however, ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

an ordinary pleasant summer day
a very ordinary sort of man

When is plain a more appropriate choice than common?

While in some cases nearly identical to common, plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

When might popular be a better fit than common?

Although the words popular and common have much in common, popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.

a writer of popular romances

How do vulgar and popular relate to one another, in the sense of common?

Vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).

souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

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 common The most common misalignments are scapular winging, in which the shoulder blades stick out from your back like wings, and forward tilting, where the shoulders round forward. Dana Santas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025 And, while their approaches are very different, one thing that Nuno and Postecoglou have in common is an appreciation of a player with versatile qualities. Paul Taylor, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 During the event, the two engaged steamy kiss, which has become a common theme in their public outings. Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025 The second most common way professors used Claude was for academic research — this comprised 13% of conversations. Lee V. Gaines, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for common
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common
Adjective
  • This fungus, usually seen as an ordinary decomposer, shows a remarkable ability to grow into hydrogels, the materials that hold water and mimic the softness of human tissue.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
  • An intimate portrait of love and exhaustion that finds the comic edge in ordinary chaos.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Newsweek contacted Johnson by email to comment on this story outside of normal business hours.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Vitamins and some foods can change the shade, and your first pee of the morning will almost always be darker — that’s normal.
    Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The general guideline is for healthy adults to get 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week, along with at least two days of strength training and activities to improve balance.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Expecting heavy rain, Joey, a general contractor and project manager, decided to work from home.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Jarren Duran lined a low single through the left side of the infielder, and Eaton raced home.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Long-term solutions may involve investments in affordable housing and community land trusts to provide sustainable options for low-income families.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Dissent is nothing more than the expression of an opinion that varies from the prevailing or traditional view or the position held by those in power.
    Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The proposal of a drone wall, which is particularly supported by Baltic and Eastern European states, is intended as both a deterrence and defensive barrier, as well as a way to pool resources to bolster Europe’s collective defense.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Under the state constitution, the gifting of certain state properties requires approval by a collective decision-making body comprised of the attorney general, the chief financial officer and the commissioner of agriculture as well as the governor.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Davis was the second-leading scorer on a mediocre Southern Illinois team.
    CJ Moore, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • There are slumps, patches of mediocre play, doldrums of various kinds.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Similar protests occurred in Brazil over steep living costs and poor healthcare and education ahead of the country hosting the 2014 World Cup tournament.
    Connor Greene, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Over time, dysfunctional breathing reinforces poor posture and scapular instability.
    Dana Santas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Common.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/common. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on common

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!