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custom

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adjective

as in customized
made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer that business tycoon wears only custom suits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun custom differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of custom are habit, practice, usage, and wont. While all these words mean "a way of acting fixed through repetition," custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.

the custom of wearing black at funerals

When can habit be used instead of custom?

Although the words habit and custom have much in common, habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

When is practice a more appropriate choice than custom?

In some situations, the words practice and custom are roughly equivalent. However, practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

Where would usage be a reasonable alternative to custom?

The synonyms usage and custom are sometimes interchangeable, but usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.

western-style dress is now common usage in international business

In what contexts can wont take the place of custom?

The words wont and custom are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

as was her wont, she slept until noon

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 custom
Noun
As part of these reforms, the Royal Navy impounded dozens of merchant vessels for allegedly evading customs duties, enraging merchants as well as mariners, shipwrights, stevedores, and others in port cities whose livelihoods depended on foreign commerce. Time, 9 Oct. 2025 Homeowners often use materials from the original property, like wood from an old barn, for new custom furniture. Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Joyce agrees, explaining that his design choices—most of the furnishings are custom—nod to the area’s natural palette. Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2025 For an option that’s a little friendlier on the wallet, semi-custom cabinetry allows customers to have catalog pieces modified to their specifications. Liz Ohanesian, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for custom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for custom
Noun
  • My annual ritual of waiting for delicata squash’s arrival is a reminder to embrace the rhythms of nature and the fleeting beauty of certain culinary moments.
    Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Other rituals include saying a prayer with his team and lighting incense.
    Akili King, Essence, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This singalong anthem would become a beloved tradition for Charlotte FC.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Another activity listed is foraging in the wild — highlighting the tradition of looking for fresh berries and mushrooms.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Vuitton, Gucci bags Hill’s business dealings with Gatlin may stand out, but her company’s transactions with the Foundation were not as numerous or as large as those involving Holsendolph, the Miami vendor.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
  • CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Two years before, Google was fined $177 million for allegedly blocking customized versions of its Android operating system.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Rather than relying on one dominant platform, Argenti advises professionals to curate a customized mix of AI tools suited to different tasks.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The Phillies also exploited a habit that emerged with Ohtani’s return to the mound as a two-way player.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Anthropic updated the rule in July, allowing prospective hires to polish their resumes, cover letters, and applications with the advanced tech.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
  • But Takaichi stood out for her rhetoric, vowing to crack down on rule-breaking visitors and immigrants.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • His wife, a manicurist herself, is best friends with a woman who studied under Hedren’s patronage.
    Arabelle Sicardi, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Dams and water diversions became engines of patronage, enriching insiders, killing rivers and exacting a terrible cost from rural communities.
    Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Reviewers recommend sizing down for a more tailored fit.
    Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
  • For tailored guidance on your situation, contact them here.
    William Jones, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Custom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custom. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

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