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 usual
often observed or encountered
an ordinary hairstyle for boys of that age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in commonplace
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 ordinary
Alex Connor,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Yet even wealthy tech founders face the same series of disruptions ordinary people do.
—
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Alila Napa Valley goes beyond the ordinary by offering unforgettable experiences designed to captivate modern travelers, especially Xennials.
—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordinary
Adjective
The soccer, and the goodness of ordinary Americans, saved this World Cup.
—
Alex Connor,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Yet even wealthy tech founders face the same series of disruptions ordinary people do.
—
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
Noun
Chelsea have had their fair share of entertainers since making their debut in the tournament — the individuals who can just do something out of the ordinary to make everyone realise they are being treated to a game at the highest level.
—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Alila Napa Valley goes beyond the ordinary by offering unforgettable experiences designed to captivate modern travelers, especially Xennials.
—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordinary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordinary
Adjective
-
Shah adds that many women feel their best when ferritin levels are at least between 40 and 70 ng/ml for optimal energy and hair health, even if lab ranges suggest lower levels are ‘normal’.
-
People are being asked to have their trash and recycling at the curb at least one hour prior to their normal pickup time.
Adjective
-
Find a quiet gate, buy a decent coffee, use your noise-canceling headphones.
-
Rear-seat passengers get decent legroom and the cargo area is practical enough for road trips, shopping runs or airport duty.
Adjective
-
And because of the extreme concentration of wealth, the market’s rally is much more significant to the economy than usual — for good and bad.
-
In fact, Iran has no intention of going back to business as usual in the strait, Noam Raydan, senior fellow at the Washington Institute think tank, wrote in a blog post on Friday.
Noun
-
Wolff was only the eighth woman to drive a Formula 1 car (four more have done it since); the role, a now-commonplace one that includes driving the simulator during Grand Prix weekends to inform trackside strategy, was created for her.
-
The videos are often integrated into larger montages of drone strikes, underscoring how commonplace these drones have become for Russian forces.
Adjective
-
Conditions will bring above-average temperatures to World Cup host cities such as Boston, Philadelphia and Kansas City, Missouri, all of which have open-air stadiums.
-
Forty ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler, a number still significantly lower than the average daily crossings before the war with Iran started in February.
Adjective
-
McDonald's is giving away a free order of medium fries for National Fry Day on July 10 with a $1 minimum purchase in the app, according to a press release shared with PEOPLE.
-
Prepare a grill for medium-high indirect heat (for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off; for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side); lightly oil grate with vegetable oil.
Adjective
-
The Human Edge In An AI-First Era As AI becomes ubiquitous, the last real differentiator is human.
-
Even a brand name as ubiquitous as Walmart is always looking to strengthen its customer base.
Noun
-
The board removed its previous time limit rule at public comment sessions during board meetings when more than 20 speakers are signed up.
-
For county-specific labels like Napa or Sonoma, the 75% rule applies.
Cite this Entry
“Ordinary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordinary. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
