Synonyms of conventional

conventional

adjective

kən-ˈvench-nəl 

1

as in usual

accepted, used, or practiced by most people

conventional wisdom holds that an incumbent president has an overwhelming advantage over his opponent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• usual
• current
• customary
• prevailing
• standard
• popular
• prevalent
• normal
• average
• going
• common
• ordinary
• stock
• widespread
• regular
• universal
• routine
• everyday
• ubiquitous
• fashionable
• in
• accustomed
• stylish
• epidemic
• wonted
• modish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unusual
• unconventional
• extraordinary
• unpopular
• nonstandard
• abnormal
• exceptional
• uncommon

2

as in traditional

based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation

tried to break from the conventional attitudes regarding the proper roles for men and women

Synonyms & Similar Words

• traditional
• customary
• classical
• usual
• historical
• prescriptive
• old
• authentic
• common
• historic
• orthodox
• established
• ancient
• fixed
• ancestral
• habitual
• old-time
• old-world
• venerable
• hoary
• timeless
• aged
• age-old
• antediluvian
• immemorial
• ageless
• dateless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unconventional
• nontraditional
• modern
• new
• contemporary
• current
• untraditional
• present-day
• modernized
• new age
• updated
• up-to-date
• latest
• high-tech
• newfangled
• state-of-the-art
• uncustomary
• modernistic
• original
• ultramodern
• futuristic
• revolutionary
• hot
• progressive
• unusual
• red-hot
• unorthodox
• unprecedented
• mod
• nonconformist
• new-fashioned
• space-age
• supermodern
• nonorthodox

3

as in formal

following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules

conventional courtesy demands that the bridal couple send written thank-you notes for their gifts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• formal
• ceremonial
• orthodox
• ceremonious
• regular
• official
• routine
• correct
• proper
• polite
• authorized
• decorous
• certified
• ritual
• systematic
• accepted
• respectable
• sanctioned
• formalistic
• genteel
• methodical
• ritualistic
• orderly
• nice
• seemly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• informal
• unconventional
• casual
• unorthodox
• irregular
• unauthorized
• unofficial
• freewheeling
• improper
• inappropriate
• unceremonious
• unsuitable
• incorrect
• unhappy
• unfit
• unseemly
• inept
• unbecoming
• indecorous
• infelicitous
• graceless
• unapt

Synonym Chooser

How is the word conventional distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of conventional are ceremonial, ceremonious, and formal. While all these words mean "marked by attention to or adhering strictly to prescribed forms," conventional implies accord with general custom and usage and may suggest a stodgy lack of originality or independence.

conventional courtesy

conventional fiction

How are the words ceremonial and ceremonious related as synonyms of conventional?

Ceremonial and ceremonious both imply strict attention to what is prescribed by custom or by ritual, but ceremonial applies to things that are associated with ceremonies.

a ceremonial offering

When is it sensible to use ceremonious instead of conventional?

In some situations, the words ceremonious and conventional are roughly equivalent. However, ceremonious applies to persons given to ceremony or to acts attended by ceremony.

made his ceremonious entrance

Where would formal be a reasonable alternative to conventional?

The synonyms formal and conventional are sometimes interchangeable, but formal applies both to things prescribed by and to persons obedient to custom and may suggest stiff, restrained, or old-fashioned behavior.

a formal report

the headmaster's formal manner

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of conventional

Had the new team followed the conventional institutional approach, the panel noted, in all likelihood no claims would have yet been processed. — Jennifer Pahlka, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Fantastic Fest, the most reliably eclectic and unapologetically strange American film festival on the fall calendar, has unveiled a lineup that promises to delight any cinephile whose tastes lie outside the conventional. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Aug. 2026

Debt forgiveness tends to make the most sense when a borrower is already delinquent, facing genuine financial hardship or unable to keep up with payments through any conventional method. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Participants chose a book using either a conventional search interface or a conversational agent. — Ming Zhu, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing conventional

• conventional wisdom