1
as in grind
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity
part of my morning routine is drinking a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
1
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events
this is just a routine inspection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in formal
following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules
the routine procedure for filing a complaint with the board
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in usual
often observed or encountered
the movie is a routine thriller that has little to recommend it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of routine
Noel Brennan, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Enterprises that can survive the many hurdles the state government produces may find national business upheaval just part of the routine.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Nik Popli, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
Elevated bacteria levels detected by routine testing have placed the waterfront areas around the Oceanside Municipal Pier, Buccaneer Beach, and the Buena Vista Lagoon outlet on San Diego County’s beach advisory list.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for routine
Noun
After all these years, she's used to the routine along the Des Plaines River.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Enterprises that can survive the many hurdles the state government produces may find national business upheaval just part of the routine.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
What might once have passed as a routine assertion of military law triggered a political firestorm.
—Nik Popli, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
Elevated bacteria levels detected by routine testing have placed the waterfront areas around the Oceanside Municipal Pier, Buccaneer Beach, and the Buena Vista Lagoon outlet on San Diego County’s beach advisory list.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for routine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for routine
Noun
-
Between surging gas prices and ransom-level parking fees, the cost of the daily grind adds up.—
Itay Hod,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The guitarist grind and shriek and gnarl as the rhythm section thunders away, with Winter’s voice often acting more as another instrument rather than the focal point.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The exercise was meant to drive home the importance of paying attention to real life, not the gleaming little screens that have taken over our world.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
On March 23, the San Dieguito Academy lacrosse program held its third annual Pull Up for Hunger event, challenging high school athletes to tackle a tough physical exercise to make a difference for San Diegans struggling with food insecurity.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Jimmie Fowlie and Ceara O’Sullivan’s script relies on formulaic coming-of-age beats before drifting unexpectedly into absurdism in the third act.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The filing alleges Hayes fired without warning and that Avery did not pose an immediate threat, was not advancing toward anyone, and was not engaging in any violent act at the time.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Calls to the ships’ operators outside normal working hours either weren’t answered or weren’t immediately returned.—
Julian Lee,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Sanoja has primarily played third base this season, with seven of his nine starts coming there, but his last two starts came in center field on Thursday (to give normal starter Jakob Marsee his first day off from the field) and left field on Friday.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Since the 2018 reforms began requiring the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to report awards and settlements related to formal complaints, there have been eight payments made by House members' offices, totaling just over $400,000.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
He was ordered to complete a 52-week domestic violence program and sentenced to three years of formal probation.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Here, in this new context, their large eyes did not seem wide with their usual wonder but swollen with grief and disbelief.—
Douglas Stuart,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The critical shipping route, responsible for moving a significant share of the world’s oil, has slowed to a fraction of its usual volume amid the war.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Curtain calls In 1999, a male hippo in rut apparently mistook a passing tractor at a French zoo for a rival and smashed through his enclosure fencing.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Additionally, tilling wet soil can do more harm than good by creating dense soil layers and deep ruts.—
Nora Doonan,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The law will expand background checks for adults living with guardians and create a new Child Welfare Ombudsman, which is an independent advocate inside the attorney general's office to handle complaints and review child welfare practices.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Motta moved her fledgling practice, Motta Law, into a small office building at 525 Clay Street, in Kenner, just west of New Orleans.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Routine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routine. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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