1
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events
it was a perfectly ordinary and undistinguished shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decent
of average to below average quality
the pizza at that restaurant is just ordinary—it's nothing to write home about
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ubiquitous
often observed or encountered
an ordinary hairstyle for boys of that age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in usual
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ordinary
Sam Reed, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2025
These pieces can transform one’s daily bathing ritual from an ordinary to a spa-like experience.
—Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 1 Nov. 2024
PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
For decades, thousands of ordinary people who found themselves in these circumstances called upon the help of a balding, bespectacled man from Cambridge.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordinary
Adjective
The couple have often walked red carpets together, so it certainly wouldn’t be considered out of the ordinary for the 37-year-old to walk the Golden Globes red carpet alongside her beau as his plus-one.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2025
These pieces can transform one’s daily bathing ritual from an ordinary to a spa-like experience.
—Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
Like other Meta models, the Vanguard looks like an ordinary pair of glasses, but includes a camera for taking photos and videos, microphones for making calls and receiving voice commands, and open-ear speakers for listening to music.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
For decades, thousands of ordinary people who found themselves in these circumstances called upon the help of a balding, bespectacled man from Cambridge.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordinary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordinary
Adjective
-
The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts near-to-above normal snowfall on the Ohio Valley's eastern side, which includes Pittsburgh and Charleston, South Carolina, and a below-normal amount on the western side, near the southern tip of Illinois.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Those in the control group were simply asked to maintain their normal daily activities throughout the study and were not assigned any strength programming.—
Peter Mason,
Outside,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s just a decent dude, right there.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The opening sequence — involving a scared little boy whose fear only accelerates during a nightmarish car ride — is a decent bellwether for the first five episodes (which is all that were screened for critics, of the eight total).—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Her video featured her usual format of showing herself making an iced coffee before pausing to speak to the camera.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The postal service is primarily self-funded and doesn't depend on the appropriations process to continue running as usual.—
The NPR Network,
NPR,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Ion gauges are relatively cheap (under US $1,000) and commonplace.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The fact of death: what a commonplace, what a banal place to land.—
Garth Greenwell,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Seizeen Store Inflatable Hot Tub with Massage Jets This isn’t your average inflatable tub.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Oct. 2025
-
In terms of precipitation, the seasonal temperature outlook predicts a 33%-40% likelihood of an above average amount of precipitation for the entire state during the winter months.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Add buttermilk, oil, and vanilla; beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until well blended, 1 to 2 minutes.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Using an electric hand mixer, blend on medium speed.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
As the cowboy image has become more ubiquitous, Christensen said more companies are capitalizing on its trendiness.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Munro has been a ubiquitous bit player and character actor for decades now, with hundreds of credits to his name.—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
After wrestling control of Long Island from the Dutch, British rule went mostly unchallenged for over a century before the region played host to the largest battle of the American Revolutionary War.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The mother of a star high school wide receiver has sued the Ohio High School Athletic Association over a prohibition on high school athletes signing NIL deals, but the case might be resolved by a rule change and, if not, would face hurdles.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ordinary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordinary. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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