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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
The sunny, bubbly bon vivant is staying upbeat, and looking at the positives, per usual. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025 As usual, in certain markets, Samsung may continue to load the S26 with Exynos chips. PC Magazine, 4 Nov. 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
  • That sentiment, while proclaimed in jest, captures a current appetite among many celebrities and fans alike to break away from conventional interviews in favor of more authentic and flavorful content.
    Yahya Salem, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Reports claimed that the KSOT is designed to provide a fast, efficient and effective solution to strengthen the Indonesia’s maritime combat capabilities, while complementing its existing fleet of conventional submarines.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Shawn Dahl, a space weather forecaster at the Space Weather Prediction Center, notes that an additional, even stronger CME is expected midday Wednesday — along with the chance to see the northern lights farther south than normal.
    Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Members will be able to shop inside the warehouse during normal business hours.
    Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Luxury brands have sought to distance themselves from the increasingly shabby in-store experience and ubiquitous mark-downs at department stores.
    Phil Wahba, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
  • This particular mashup hardly counts as culturally ubiquitous in 2025.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Chelsea have had their fair share of entertainers since making their debut in the tournament — the individuals who can just do something out of the ordinary to make everyone realise they are being treated to a game at the highest level.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Alila Napa Valley goes beyond the ordinary by offering unforgettable experiences designed to captivate modern travelers, especially Xennials.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Having waded through the elaborate setup and established the stakes with his customary jazzy energy and sharp visuals, Wright then slips into an episodic rut.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Coaches between the two teams agreed that, instead of a customary five-minute break between the two halves of extra time, both teams would switch halves and resume play almost immediately.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The Midea Flexify Air Fryer isn’t your typical air fryer.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Nearby Leyte and northern parts of Mindanao, both populous islands in the center of the country, saw between 150 and 250 mm (6 to 10 inches) of rain in only 24 hours — well above the typical monthly rainfall for November.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • With spoofing tools, criminals can mimic real bank phone numbers and even use AI to reproduce familiar voices.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The common ingredients are incredible storytellers who are excited about trying to make a series that feels authentic and realistic, and maybe feels familiar, but in a way that also feels elevated and sophisticated.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Under the rule, the agency could ask for facial images, iris scans, finger and palm prints, voice prints and even DNA.
    Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Students already in medical school who have taken out federal loans before the new rules take effect on July 1 will be exempted from the cap.
    Tribune News Service, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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