1
as in rituals
a usual manner of behaving or doing
it is my custom to have half a bagel and coffee for breakfast
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in traditions
an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing
the custom around here is that the bride's family pays for the wedding
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 customs
When Europeans did encounter protoindustry, trade, and commerce, it was almost always tightly regulated by government officials, guilds, customs, or local powers.
—
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
On a larger scale, US customs has detained thousands of shipments under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).
—Tara Winter, Sourcing Journal, 24 Mar. 2026
Burke believed that manners and mores, customs and norms, codes of conduct, and beauty itself made life more humane.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
The vehicles were parked around the customs area while the cases were pending.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
The current measures aim to unify the legal, customs, and trade framework across all Iraqi borders in line with the federal constitution.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Baked into our calendar and customs are endless mechanisms for marking time, for savoring, for taking stock, for starting fresh.
—Risa Polansky Shiman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
By Yudhijit Bhattacharjee In Nigeria, customs officers and conservationists are confronting the grim impacts of the $20 billion trade.
—Yudhijit Bhattacharjee Yudhijit Bhattacharjee Daphne Merkin Elisabeth Zerofsky David Marchese Jennifer Gersten Mitch Therieau John Hodgman, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2026
The series could not be more timely, what with the giant corporations controlling everything and people adopting Chinese customs on social media.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
On a larger scale, US customs has detained thousands of shipments under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).
—Tara Winter, Sourcing Journal, 24 Mar. 2026
Burke believed that manners and mores, customs and norms, codes of conduct, and beauty itself made life more humane.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
The vehicles were parked around the customs area while the cases were pending.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
The current measures aim to unify the legal, customs, and trade framework across all Iraqi borders in line with the federal constitution.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Baked into our calendar and customs are endless mechanisms for marking time, for savoring, for taking stock, for starting fresh.
—Risa Polansky Shiman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
By Yudhijit Bhattacharjee In Nigeria, customs officers and conservationists are confronting the grim impacts of the $20 billion trade.
—Yudhijit Bhattacharjee Yudhijit Bhattacharjee Daphne Merkin Elisabeth Zerofsky David Marchese Jennifer Gersten Mitch Therieau John Hodgman, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2026
The series could not be more timely, what with the giant corporations controlling everything and people adopting Chinese customs on social media.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for customs
Noun
-
Designed by Bill Bensley, the restaurant reinterprets Victorian-era rituals and Singaporean flavors, tracing the hotel’s culinary evolution from 1887 to today.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Many are used as shrines for meditation and rituals and are visited by tourists and pilgrims.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
However, these systems and traditions were disrupted by the slave trade.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The Passover Seder is a feast that includes reading the Haggadah, drinking wine, telling stories, eating special foods, singing, and other Passover traditions.—
Rabbi Moishe Kievman,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Across his multimedia practice, Aram’s project is one of disrupting the habits of classification that render aesthetic judgment perfunctory.—
Julian Stern,
Artforum,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Ways to stay safe from DocuSign phishing scams Fortunately, a few habits can dramatically lower your risk.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
All medical specialties have rules for filling out their notes, and ABA providers shouldn’t need the state to tell them that copying and pasting the same summary for each session, as the inspectors found in some cases, wasn’t good enough, Bimestefer said.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Teams are required to demonstrate that there was a misapplication of the official playing rules, as opposed to an error in judgment by game officials, according to the NBA.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Officials in the suburb said the initiative, which had been in the planning stages since 2019, is designed to address the discriminatory housing policies and practices faced by Black residents.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Fuel sellers engaging in unfair or anticompetitive practices will be referred for prosecution if necessary, the watchdog said.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The city still struggles with the fallout from the pandemic, when Downtown was hollowed out, property values and tax revenues fell and have never recovered.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Plummer is concerned the operations will disturb his horses, while his real estate agent has warned him to be prepared for a seven-figure loss in property values.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Customs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/customs. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
