Definition of usualnext
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usual

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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
Washington’s usual summer pests will also make an appearance, including mosquitoes, which Raupp noted are more attracted to sweaty spectators than bright lights, as well as black flies and even bats feeding on the abundance of insects. Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2026 As per usual, Louis's adorable facial expressions stole the show. Christina Perrier, InStyle, 13 June 2026
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
  • The screens offer higher frame rates, greater brightness, deeper blacks and superior contrast ratios compared with conventional digital projectors.
    Marcus Lim, Variety, 15 June 2026
  • The scan can sometimes detect disease that conventional imaging misses, helping physicians better understand the extent of cancer.
    Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Now that the garden is complete aside from normal plant replacements, Sterman recognizes it as the expression of her own evolution and growth as a garden designer as well as changing views on waterwise gardening.
    Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2026
  • The West Coast is also bracing for rising temperatures, with highs climbing to 10 to 25 degrees above normal this weekend.
    Christine Rapp, NBC news, 13 June 2026
Adjective
  • The bottom line High CD interest rates are ubiquitous this June, and that's unlikely to change now that the Federal Reserve has issued yet another interest rate pause.
    Matt Richardson, CBS News, 18 June 2026
  • The department store is rethinking its approach to luxury, as consumers are now pushing back against a decade of increasingly standardized and ubiquitous products.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • When crafting client success stories, look for the beautiful ordinary.
    Richard Lowe, Forbes.com, 9 June 2026
  • Williams’ gift for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary was inspired by his interactions with his patients.
    René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • The company uses long-term contracts that mimic regulated returns, avoiding the fluctuations customary in deregulated markets.
    Conor Harrison, The Conversation, 16 June 2026
  • The rate decision will be the first major policy move overseen by Warsh, who will address reporters during a customary press conference minutes after the central bank issues its announcement.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • Activities include vacation standards like pools and a beach club along with less typical offerings like horseback riding on the beach, beach shelling by golf cart, and the resort’s Hawk Walk.
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 16 June 2026
  • Reporters from England said this is a typical setup for the press covering the England men’s national team.
    Pete Grathoff June 14, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Construction outside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center has become a familiar sight in downtown Dallas since July 2025.
    Dawn White, CBS News, 19 June 2026
  • The park has seven lands − all tied to franchises kids are already familiar with.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Rollins credited the administration's crackdown on fraud and recipients who aren't legally authorized to be in the country, as well as the new rules.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • Growing numbers of Labour MPs called for Starmer to quit, but with Burnham unable to run as party leader – and hence prime minister – since rules and convention state that only serving MPs can do so, no one was willing or able to launch an official challenge.
    Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 19 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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