ROUTINE Synonyms: 220 Similar and Opposite Words

routine 1 of 2

noun

rü-ˈtēn

as in grind

an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity part of my morning routine is drinking a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper

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Relevance

as in exercise

something done over and over in order to develop skill a weapons training routine

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as in act

a performance regularly presented by an individual or group did a tired routine that's been around since the days of vaudeville

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routine

2 of 2

adjective

rü-ˈtēn

as in normal

being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events this is just a routine inspection

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in formal

following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules the routine procedure for filing a complaint with the board

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as in usual

often observed or encountered the movie is a routine thriller that has little to recommend it

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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 routine

Noun

Vomiting, weight gain from steroids used in her treatment and hospitalization became part of her routine. —

ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026 Here’s a closer look at what’s out there, what the ingredients actually do, and how each product fits into a thinning hair routine. —

Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

Adjective

But this was not a routine mission. —

Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026 Together, these features help reduce routine maintenance and support more comfortable long-term use. —

Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for routine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for routine

Noun

His former teammate Porzingis could relate to Tatum’s rehab process, and said that a desire to be involved in the team’s day-to-day grind is often a great motivator.

— Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2026
But the quagmire is made worse by the question of what audiences want in an age of abundant at-home entertainment options, tighter budgets and general fatigue from the merciless grind of modern life.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026