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 marine level was the key to the mild weather that returned to the Bay Area last week, along with low pressure that made the upper atmosphere colder than normal. Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026 But Clark’s life is anything but normal and is about to become much stranger. Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
This preventive darkness is fast becoming the new normal for millions of residents in the West. Jasmine Garland, The Conversation, 7 July 2026 Then, before the listener can fully settle in, the Puerto Rican rapper and singer fires off bars claiming that Grammys were stolen from him and details his many nights spent sleeping on the floor to his new normal of earning $500,000 per show. Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for normal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for normal
Adjective
  • Pay attention to ordinary pleasures, like a warm bed on a cold night, a good cup of coffee, or a brightly colored bird outside the window.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Critics, however, said the effects of those macroeconomic improvements were not being felt by ordinary Zambians who were growing frustrated with a high cost of living and electricity shortages.
    Jacob Zimba, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Global economic instability has created unease at home, and a property crisis coupled with high youth unemployment has convinced some residents that securing a stable job within the government is the best path.
    Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Both males were listed in stable condition, according to Boisvert.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • With 50,000 unique items for sale and dozens of each on shelves at your typical big box store, that’s a lot for human beings to keep track of.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The carbon footprint was calculated using a range of usage from an industry average of 60% to 100% for round-the-clock deployment, and a gas burn rate of a typical single-cycle gas generator.
    Matt Day, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Gurubhagavatula says younger students, ages six to 12 years old, should get an average of nine to 12 hours of sleep a night.
    Jan Carabeo, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Data from commodity analytics firm Kpler showed crossings at a five-day average of just 10 vessels, the lowest level since May.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Its separate entrance, elevators, and staff have always set it apart from the surrounding casino ecosystem, offering a smoke-free, gaming-free environment with all the brand’s usual service signatures.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • For example, someone who is comfortable walking for 30 minutes could walk at their usual pace for several minutes, then pick it up for a minute or two before slowing down again.
    Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Carr and Konkoly would wire everyone up with EEG, perform their lucid-dreaming protocol, and let people drift off.
    Veronique Greenwood, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Songs about heartbreak and toxic relationship cycles are precise and lucid, even in their delusions.
    Vogue, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • For those participating in the trial, surgeons had already removed their tumors, and everyone had been treated with Keytruda, the standard immunotherapy.
    Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Toxicology tests, which are standard in many death investigations, could take weeks to complete.
    Holly Yan, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The result is a nearly 7% yield that’s more than twice its historical norms and virtually unheard of in the sector.
    Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Murphy explained that democracies die when those in power smash our democratic norms.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Normal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/normal. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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