routine 1 of 2

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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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2
as in exercise
something done over and over in order to develop skill a weapons training routine

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3
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

routine

2 of 2

adjective

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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
In a small town like Harding, a crime involving local children of local families shatters the relatively placid and usually numb routines of daily life. Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025 McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams rested per their Wednesday routine. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Press conferences have become routine for the leaders, some holding two to three a day. Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 16 Oct. 2025 Promising more than your routine sweat session, the Life Time luxury fitness center under construction on a full city block in Chula Vista will open to the public in December, the company said this week. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for routine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for routine
Noun
  • In addition to health disparities, the constant grind within the industry of recording, touring, filming, traveling, and lack of rest, are not a far cry from the hustle of everyday men who work tirelessly.
    Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Dragging out these memories was a grind.
    Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Today, Gucci Mane follows a strict regimen of medication, rest, exercise, and therapy.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
  • This season has been an exercise in frustration.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The annotated text of the original Voting Rights Act is below, along with scholarship written about the act before and after its passage.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Removing a royal title would require an act of parliament, but the move could receive support from the government and the public with King Charles' backing, the outlet reports.
    Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Israel then tightened a land-sea-air blockade of the territory, which made normal governance impossible and turned every budget line into a permit request.
    Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The cells measure nine square meters (nearly 97 square foot), no bigger than normal cells, although residents in this special wing aren’t required to share a cell, typically out of concern for their safety.
    Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Accompanied by a nonchalant guitar performance, dancer and choreographer Dong Jilan, donning a brown velvet dress and having the same long, wavy hair as Sanmao, woke up from a miniature dune and roamed around the set in a highly spiritual and ceremonial fashion.
    Denni Hu, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Randy Johnson tossed the ceremonial first pitch on Wednesday.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Steelers counter with their usual black-and-yellow primaries.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Kevin sneaks his way into a room at the Plaza Hotel and gets up to his usual shenanigans in the building, which was owned in real life by Donald at the time, with Ivana serving as the property's president.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Break out of a rut by being open to novel approaches toward love and by being less codependent.
    Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Amazon’s selection of dresses is here to save you from a fall fashion rut.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Discussions have been held about dividing Madrid’s football operations from their business operations and letting speculators invest in the latter — although how (or if) that would work in practice is a moot point.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • In recent years, safety concerns have been raised at the plant, which faced federal fines several years ago related to workplace safety practices, according to federal records.
    Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Routine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routine. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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