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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
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
Noun
This means all the other events prior to race day, including qualifying, practice sessions, and media day, will take place one day earlier than usual. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 Luckin’s menu is filled with usual coffeehouse staples, including cold brews, hot coffee and matcha options. Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for usual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usual
Adjective
  • And then there were the potential ills of a conventional approach, like fumes spewed by laminate flooring.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
  • Perhaps this abundance of conventional warfare was why the competitive multiplayer modes never became an online sensation?
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Deloitte’s Global Resilience Report, based on surveys of over 2,000 CEOs and 6,000 executives, found that 62% view ongoing disruption as the new normal.
    Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Representatives for OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fortune, made outside normal working hours.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Beyond these ubiquitous technologies, the quieter rise of connected devices unfolded.
    Thomas Ryd, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Though the United States' EV adoption process may be sluggish compared to other countries, electric vehicles have become ubiquitous in some of the largest cities in America like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 28 June 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
  • Shohei Ohtani took his customary spot atop the Dodgers’ batting order for their game against the Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon.
    Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 22 June 2025
  • What began as a joke soon became customary for the crew to blurt out on set when something went wrong, which happened frequently.
    Logan Holland, People.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Temperatures will be around 87 degrees, which is typical for this time of year in the metro.
    Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2025
  • This training teaches us to be present in the midst of the chaos of a typical day.
    Janice Marturano, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • The whole first half of the season saw Hamilton struggle to adapt to the Italian race car, and Silverstone was another chapter in a familiar story.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
  • Managers saw themselves as solving the equivalent of familiar jigsaw puzzles.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • But Stella lives in London in the 1860s, and the rules and roles for young women, especially young Black women like Stella, are strict.
    Caroline Carlson June 30, Literary Hub, 30 June 2025
  • The charitable event, which launched in 2006 as an offshoot of the 24 Hour Plays project, has strict rules.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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