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Definition of normalnext
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normal

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noun

as in average
what is typical of a group, class, or series a temperature chart showing the normals and extremes for various regions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective normal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of normal are natural, regular, and typical. While all these words mean "being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average," normal implies lack of deviation from what has been discovered or established as the most usual or expected.

normal behavior for a two-year-old

In what contexts can natural take the place of normal?

The meanings of natural and normal largely overlap; however, natural applies to what conforms to a thing's essential nature, function, or mode of being.

the natural love of a mother for her child

When is regular a more appropriate choice than normal?

While in some cases nearly identical to normal, regular stresses conformity to a rule, standard, or pattern.

the club's regular monthly meeting

When might typical be a better fit than normal?

The words typical and normal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, typical implies showing all important traits of a type, class, or group and may suggest lack of strong individuality.

a typical small town

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 normal
Adjective
The three-month forecast released June 18 by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center shows a widespread likelihood of above-normal temperatures. Swasti Singhai, USA Today, 20 June 2026 How large is the position relative to the stock’s normal trading volume? Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
Noun
This has become the new normal for middle-income families, and even higher-income Americans are starting to fall behind on their bills. Dr. Erika Rasure, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2026 With snowfall 60% below normal for the season through February in its home state of Colorado and low in neighboring Utah, Vail has seen skiers and snowboarders stay away in droves. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for normal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for normal
Adjective
  • This high-impact look is a bit out of the ordinary for the star, save for that show-stopping blue eye makeup look—a literal something blue—to conclude The Drama press in April.
    Mykenna Maniece, Vogue, 22 June 2026
  • My situation was, on some level, achingly ordinary.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • He was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
    Jenna DeAngelis, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • The injured girl's mother is believed to have jumped from a second-floor window to safety and is in stable condition, the PFD confirmed to CBS News.
    Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • The researchers said a household needs an income of roughly $120,000 to afford a typical home these days.
    Cory Smith, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2026
  • Quantum computing can boost capacity beyond that of a typical computer.
    Emily Chang, ABC News, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Soccer families who participated in the survey reported spending an average of $910 per year on equipment, registration and other fees in 2025.
    Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 19 June 2026
  • The market price is a weighted average of the prices of the two classes.
    Alex Crippen, CNBC, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • As Strong spoke with state reporters this week on campus, her answers were even more clipped than usual, almost terse.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2026
  • Thirteen-year-old MGP rye bottled at 112 proof is a recipe for success, a classic rye style that is aged for longer than usual and bottled at a higher proof, which means less dilution, more flavor, and a deeper palate.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • Even compared to 2023’s excellent Alive People, the mood is light, the pace is slow, and her reflections are lucid to the point of being haikuesque.
    Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026
  • There’s a lucid rebellion bubbling within the walls of Broadway’s Studio 54 theater, the kind that transcends space, time, and earthly norms.
    Gianluca Russo, Allure, 5 June 2026
Adjective
  • OpenAI’s native checkout collapsed in March after Walmart reported conversion rates three times worse than standard e-commerce flows, and fewer than 30 Shopify merchants ever went live.
    Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • To combat the physical toll of the journey, Qantas is configuring these aircraft to carry significantly fewer passengers than standard A350s — just 238, compared to the standard 400 — leaving more space for those on board.
    Jake McGowan, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • People bring different styles, body types, and cultural norms to work.
    Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 18 June 2026
  • Culture is perceived uniquely based on one's role and working style, with implicit norms rewarding some behaviors while marginalizing others.
    Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Normal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/normal. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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