1
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events
it was a perfectly ordinary and undistinguished shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decent
of average to below average quality
the pizza at that restaurant is just ordinary—it's nothing to write home about
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ubiquitous
often observed or encountered
an ordinary hairstyle for boys of that age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in usual
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ordinary
Sam Reed, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2025
These pieces can transform one’s daily bathing ritual from an ordinary to a spa-like experience.
—Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 1 Nov. 2024
Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 28 Oct. 2025
Flynn is one of the few on the council who try to slow the Wu train, as the voices of ordinary Bostonians are too often dismissed by progressives in lockstep with Mayor Michelle Wu’s agenda.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordinary
Adjective
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
These pieces can transform one’s daily bathing ritual from an ordinary to a spa-like experience.
—Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
Former Chicago mayor and ambassador Rahm Emanuel made the point to us the other day that the Gaza ceasefire came about in no small measure because both ordinary Israeli and Palestinian people, weary of war, pressured leaders to make a deal those leaders did not really want to make.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 28 Oct. 2025
Flynn is one of the few on the council who try to slow the Wu train, as the voices of ordinary Bostonians are too often dismissed by progressives in lockstep with Mayor Michelle Wu’s agenda.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordinary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordinary
Adjective
-
One commenter shared with OP that this behavior is normal and that kids can often switch their preference between parents.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Having never worked at a place that wasn’t a scam center, the more experienced among them came to see their jobs as normal.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Like a romping rhino, the Supersports skirted the limits of decent behavior with an urge to charge every now and again.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
28 Oct. 2025
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The Browns ran with decent success at edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson, a frequent target of opposing run games, even when Chaisson did not align at his usual right outside linebacker position.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The team's usual coach, JP MacCallum, took time off after his 10-year-old daughter, Selah, died of cancer, per Marchand's Instagram post.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Blank sailings have only gotten more prevalent as ocean carriers aimed to stop months of declines in freight rates after a softer-than-usual peak shipping season.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Ion gauges are relatively cheap (under US $1,000) and commonplace.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The fact of death: what a commonplace, what a banal place to land.—
Garth Greenwell,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Sunderland have conceded the third-most shots in the division, but the average quality of those efforts has been low.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Combined with the loss of enhanced subsidies, some people could pay 114%, on average, more in premiums, Cox said.—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Cover and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld, about 15 minutes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Cook on medium to high heat for 3-4 hours.—
Bethany Thayer,
Freep.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Future of eVTOLs In the longer term, Goldstein sees a future where eVTOLs are ubiquitous in the skies above American cities, flying in designated, but invisible, sky highways to ensure safety.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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There’s the ubiquitous sloshing of bright red hurricanes in curvaceous cocktail glasses, the sizzling of beignets in fryers and the bubbling of boiling crawfish on stovetops.—
Matt Alderton,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The number of foreign residents has risen sharply in recent years, reaching a record 3 percent of the population in 2024, as Tokyo cautiously loosened visa rules for workers in key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and caregiving.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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However, Laporta has now become closer to La Liga president Tebas, as Barca have looked for more flexibility in meeting the competition’s strict financial sustainability rules.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ordinary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordinary. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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