1
2
3

usual

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word usual distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of usual are accustomed, customary, habitual, and wonted. While all these words mean "familiar through frequent or regular repetition," usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

How is accustomed related to other words for usual?

Accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

In what contexts can customary take the place of usual?

The words customary and usual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

When could habitual be used to replace usual?

Although the words habitual and usual have much in common, habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

When is wonted a more appropriate choice than usual?

The words wonted and usual can be used in similar contexts, but wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

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 usual
Adjective
My waves were significantly softer, smoother, shinier, more defined, and hydrated than usual. Malia Griggs, Glamour, 2 May 2025 Because there may be stronger ideals upheld by cardinals eligible to select the new pope, the upcoming conclave may take longer than usual, Matthew Gabriele, a medieval studies professor at Virginia Tech, told USA TODAY. Greta Cross, USA Today, 2 May 2025
Noun
Ebonē Colbert ordered her usual on her weekly trip to Wendy's with her son: a kid’s meal with a plain cheeseburger for him and a Dave’s Single, a burger topped with lettuce and tomato, for herself. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022 On the first day back, Evans ordered his usual: a single cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 See All Example Sentences for usual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usual
Adjective
  • In one new academic paper, an AI model was able to predict whether a cancer patient is at risk of developing wasting disease better than conventional methods.
    Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Such an admission not only upsets the conventional framing of the war, but strikes at the very heart of the Vietnamese Communist Party’s own legitimacy to govern the country.
    Made by History, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Telling investors what’s coming is a normal part of doing business.
    Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
  • Chong, 30, compared the all-consuming role to that of being an athlete, who trains intensely and dedicates time and energy to the sport beyond normal business hours.
    Richard Nieva, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • The once notoriously secretive Ministry of State Security now commands a massive following on Chinese social media, with near-daily commentaries, short videos or even comic strips sounding the alarm about supposedly ubiquitous threats to the country.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
  • Liberty Mutual has a ubiquitous presence on television, and Jenna Lebel, Liberty Mutual’s CMO for its U.S. retail markets, believes the high engagement of women’s sports fans will be incredibly beneficial for both sides.
    Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Alila Napa Valley goes beyond the ordinary by offering unforgettable experiences designed to captivate modern travelers, especially Xennials.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • For close family and friends, between $50 and $100 is customary.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Everyone is unhinged, as is customary during a Trump presidency.
    Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The house is typical of the modest cottages built in the area, with a front gable and adjacent porch over the main entry.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 May 2025
  • The Lakers came back to briefly take the lead at the end of the third quarter, and even led by a point on a Doncic rainbow jumper with 6:29 remaining, but what ensued was typical of a team that had no idea how to play with their backs against the wall.
    Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • This is perhaps a good quality, as that is a familiar feeling when attending a large event.
    Matt Shaw, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • The looks on display were all too familiar, making the joke even that much funnier for its sense of radical honesty.
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • In the 13th century, the papacy was vacant for almost three years before the election of Gregory X, who tightened up conclave rules.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • The author of that rule change, Garth Glissman, is an SEC associate commissioner and driving force behind the effort to pass a similar rule for men’s college hoops.
    Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 1 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 10 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on usual

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!