Definition of normalnext
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normal

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noun (1)

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

normality

3 of 3

noun (2)

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
In fact, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2022 sent a secret shopper to seven of these clinics and found most were ready to prescribe, even though the patient in question had normal levels. Will Stone, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 Slightly above-normal temperatures continue with highs generally in the upper 90s to lower 100s. Michael Autovino, CBS News, 10 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
Noun
Oil prices fell to their lowest level since the US-Israel war with Iran, as growing signs of a tentative return to normality through the Strait of Hormuz soothed markets. Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 25 June 2026 The second payment comes when expectations come back to normality. Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for normal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for normal
Adjective
  • Kurt's key takeaways What caught my attention here is how ordinary the problem is.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • For a growing number of Charlotte-area homeowners, the path to foreclosure can start with something as ordinary as a missed paycheck, a medical setback or a rising monthly bill.
    Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • That has left oil supplies being released in intermittent waves, rather than returning to the stable, steady flow seen in the past.
    , CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike many other regions, Australian largetooth sawfish appear to have maintained relatively stable genetic diversity since at least the 1960s.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Number 1, because each well requires up to 20 million gallons of fresh water to frac a typical horizontal well.
    Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The wardrobes, however spacious, were creaky; none of the typical five-star tech touches are present—no Nespresso machine, no Dyson hair dryer, no in-wall USB outlets, though there is a charging dock.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Over the past decade, Louisiana reported an average of seven cases and one death each year, according to that state’s Department of Health.
    Alex Nettles, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In a settlement, SimonMed agreed to issue refunds within an average of 60 days.
    Julie Appleby, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Moore’s frayed, full-volume, Barbie-pink ball gown with a distressed bow was a break from her usual structured looks.
    Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Warming the roof of the mouth—for example, by pressing the tongue against the palate or drinking a room-temperature beverage—can hasten recovery from brain freeze by allowing blood vessels and sensory nerves to return to their usual state.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Zuckerman said Monday’s cross-examination helped the defense by supplying testimony that Clancy could appear lucid at some moments while experiencing severe psychiatric symptoms at others.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The South London rapper-producer’s first album for Surf Gang is lucid, soulful, and expertly curated.
    Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 3 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The new vaccine was found to be about 27% more effective during the 2024–25 respiratory virus season than standard flu shots in Moderna’s study, which enrolled over 40,000 adults 50 and older.
    Elise Haulund, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • In a late-stage trial, mFlusiva was found to be about 27% more effective than a standard flu shot.
    Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • With the help of team psychologist Dr Pippa Grange, England cultivated a team ethos in a manner that was incongruous to generations before them — and felt somewhat jarring, based on English societal norms.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • However, that bike failed to reach the market after failing to meet European emissions norms.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Normal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/normal. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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