rote 1 of 2

noun

ˈrōt How to pronounce rote (audio)
Definition of rotenext
as in routine
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity learned the rote for the exercise warm-up but not the reasoning behind it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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rote

2 of 2

adjective

as in usual

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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 rote
Noun
Nothing is done by rote in such a sophisticated operation, after all, and the results reflect at least some elements of emphasis. — Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026 Both governments still mouth the old slogans, by rote. — Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The question definitively answered here is whether more schools should be emphasizing project learning over rote memorization and teaching to the test. — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 That geographic blandness only emphasizes the film’s other shortcomings, such as Schoenaerts’s anonymous work as the villain (a lot of glowering and creepy glares) and the rather rote big-sister/little-sister arc given to Supergirl and Ruthye. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rote
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rote
  1. routine
  2. usual
  3. grind
  4. typical
  5. ordinary
  6. unimaginative
  7. standard
  8. normal
Noun
  • As the school year started and drivers tiptoed into new routines or back into old ones a couple of theoretical bear traps snapped down this past Tuesday in Cobb County.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Choose from energizing citrus, cooling eucalyptus and peppermint, calming lavender or a variety pack with five different scents – an easy way to add a little luxury to your daily routine.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of routine
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
Definition of usual
Noun
  • As a senior leader or mid-level executive tired of the grind, consider the massive opportunity hiding in plain sight.
    — Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Harbaugh liked how his team responded on Thursday to the grind.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of grind
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
Definition of typical
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
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Some critics described him as unimaginative but capable, and he was criticized for extending the defense of Bakhmut at great human cost.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • But is that because these shirts evoke nostalgia and appreciation for the designs, or because the newer alternatives are unimaginative and too expensive?
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 13 July 2026
Definition of unimaginative
Adjective
  • There is also a choice between a standard round bowl and an elongated version.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Studies have found, for example, that hospice patients with congestive heart failure or lung cancer live about a month longer, on average, than similar patients in the standard medical system.
    — Kim Clark, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of standard
Adjective
  • Villa go in as considerable underdogs — 7/2 to win in normal time and 2/1 to lift the trophy — and pulling it off would represent another big result in what has already been a landmark year for the club.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • While Social Security is facing long-term financial challenges, including projections that the retirement trust fund could face a shortfall as soon as 2032, beneficiaries can still expect payments to follow the agency's normal schedule this month.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of normal

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Cite this Entry

“Rote.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rote. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rote

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rote

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