habit 1 of 2

1
2
as in addiction
a physiological need for certain drugs a cocaine habit of long standing

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in physique
the type of body that a person has an imposing man of vigorous habit

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

habit

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun habit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of habit are custom, practice, usage, and wont. While all these words mean "a way of acting fixed through repetition," habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

When is it sensible to use custom instead of habit?

Although the words custom and habit have much in common, 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

In what contexts can practice take the place of habit?

In some situations, the words practice and habit 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

When could usage be used to replace habit?

While the synonyms usage and habit are close in meaning, 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

When can wont be used instead of habit?

The synonyms wont and habit are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 habit
Noun
What Not To Do Certain foods, medications, and habits can make the effects of caffeine worse. Carley Millhone, Health, 4 Oct. 2025 Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025 With an adequate amount of vitamin D, good sun protection, a fewer step routine and better eating habits, the glow is continuous. Samantha Mims, Essence, 3 Oct. 2025 This snake, known for its cryptic appearance and secretive habits, was found in a tropical evergreen forest. Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for habit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for habit
Noun
  • Spiritually, onyx is linked to the root chakra and is often incorporated into rituals or crystal grids for stability, grounding and protection.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The Masters’ green jacket, the haka before New Zealand rugby matches, the seventh-inning stretch in baseball—these rituals are not just trimmings but the connective tissue of sport.
    Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Twice a week, Manheim provides vital insights and comic relief from guests recounting their darkest addiction moments.
    Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The pair’s fight is fueled by the mundane (a busted dinner party) and the profound (Mark’s addiction, Dawn’s codependence, the constant pressure of professional fighting).
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Coleman was the second-leading scorer on the AAC’s third-best team and has the physique to level up.
    CJ Moore, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Crowe previously revealed his trimmer physique while stepping out to Wimbledon on July 1 with his girlfriend, Britney Theriot.
    Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The 35-year-old donned a little black dress clad with a jeweled neck-piece.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The man was fully clothed, wearing a hoodie and jeans, and had a phone in his pocket, the assistant principal said.
    David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • If your plants are failing to bloom or producing very few flower buds, adjust your cultural practices.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Moody has been dedicating her practice to helping clients navigate the AI space and counsels nearly a dozen generative voice and audio AI companies.
    Claudia Rosenbaum, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There are hundreds of models available in all shapes, sizes, and (most frighteningly) price ranges.
    Taylor Fox, Travel + Leisure, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Passionate about utopian socialism and architecture, Gaudí’s forms and shapes were totally fresh, otherworldly and are sometimes referred to as a precursor of the Surrealist movement, of which Salvador Dalí was a key proponent.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • When co-anchor Colin Jost pointed out that, per the book's lore, the clothing items mean Dobby is now free, the house elf jumped for joy — while Yang desperately clung to the fabric at his shoulders to keep it from sliding entirely off.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Investigators recovered more bones, clothing and personal effects, but other than determining the remains belonged to a woman who was at least middle-aged, could not identify her, deputies said.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Upon her arrival, the Princess of Wales — dressed in a gray suit and heels — received an overview of RAF Coningsby's work on recent operations, including activity in Poland to support NATO.
    Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Photos emerged of rescue crews dressed in high-visibility vests, shocked worshippers and faith leaders embracing one another near the synagogue.
    Peter Wilkinson, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Habit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/habit. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on habit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!