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
As customs go, a nationwide suspension of normal activity is unusual. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Authorities have already shut down one reactor unit at the Cernavoda plant, which is operating at about half its normal capacity. Justin Spike, Fortune, 3 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
  • Meals are taken family style, and the refinement of the cooking will ruin ordinary Indian restaurant fare for you.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Aug. 2026
  • For Neha Bora, a student leader who took part in a hunger strike in New Delhi, the movement showed that ordinary citizens could still hold those in power to account.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Irish boxer Lee Reeves is in a critical but stable condition in hospital after his defeat via knockout in Dublin on Saturday, a Queensberry Promotions spokesperson has confirmed.
    Chris McKenna, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The woman was transported to the hospital and remains in stable condition.
    Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Unlike typical private foundations, a POF actively conducts charitable work, such as exhibiting and conserving objects for public access.
    Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The product, a combo package called 3D Editor + Canvas, essentially combines typical AI generation (which tends to happen in 2D) with the more advanced CG world (which tends to happen in 3D).
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The sale, at an average of $63,957 per coin, was about 15% below their average purchase price.
    Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The Defense Department said in its estimate the cost assumes there will be an average of 2,500 National Guard members in Washington through January 2029.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Malnati will have to hold off a field that is stronger than usual in Detroit.
    CBS News, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Lincoln City Manager Sean Scully joked about the unusual scene when asked by The Sacramento Bee why council members and staff had traded their usual attire for Western wear.
    Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Adjective
  • The songs are lucid and explicit, delivered with the gravitas of someone whose world has just changed forever.
    Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
  • With all of this plot packed into the narrative, and much more, Nolan does a reasonably good job of keeping things lucid.
    Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 16 July 2026
Adjective
  • The microreactor breaks down into standard shipping modules that travel by road and assemble directly on site.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026
  • Its integrated unibody clip attaches to laptops, monitors or standard tripods and it can be used in landscape, portrait and even upside-down orientations.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Noun
  • The world faces unprecedented chaos, from Middle East conflict and a new nuclear arms race to AI weapons and economic disruptions, exacerbated by a decline in respect for international norms.
    William Hartung, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The fact that opposing hitters’ pull-air percentage — the most likely batted balls to result in home runs — against Kremer is up 12 percent over his career norm this year also strikes me as more small-sample noise.
    Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Normal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/normal. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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