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routine 1 of 2

noun

rü-ˈtēn How to pronounce routine (audio)
Definition of routinenext
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

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2
as in exercise
something done over and over in order to develop skill a weapons training routine

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in act
a performance regularly presented by an individual or group did a tired routine that's been around since the days of vaudeville

Synonyms & Similar Words

routine

2 of 2

adjective

rü-ˈtēn How to pronounce routine (audio)
1
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events this is just a routine inspection

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 routine
Noun
Skin barrier talk has moved from dermatology offices into TikTok routines and product marketing, and the vocabulary is starting to change how people buy skincare. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026 The 22 makeup, hair, body, and skin Splurges winning Allure Beauty of Beauty Awards turn our daily routines and makeup touch-ups into occasions in their own right. — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026
Adjective
After Clinton bantered with Jiang about topics as routine as nonproliferation and trade and as forbidden as the Dalai Lama and human rights, the two men took questions from reporters. — Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2026 That makes routine medical care part of taking care of your brain, too. — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for routine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for routine
  1. grind
  2. exercise
  3. act
  4. normal
  5. formal
  6. usual
  7. rut
  8. practice
Noun
  • Well, the guys who have been through that grind many times over — Mahomes (10 training camps with Reid), Travis Kelce (14) and Chris Jones (11) — say this training camp was unlike any of those past iterations.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Even college baseball — with its shorter schedule and regular off days — is no stand-in for the grind of a minor league season, which includes at least twice as many games as an elite NCAA program plays in a year.
    — Chad Jennings, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of grind
Noun
  • The demonstration followed an earlier appearance at Operation Jailbreak, an experimentation exercise held at Fort Carson.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
  • After three suboptimal innings, Glasnow settled down in a trust-building exercise of an outing against the Giants and their triple A-caliber lineup.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of exercise
Noun
  • Aaron Rowe, who was one of the opening acts on Ed Sheeran’s tour before pulling out after Macklemore’s dismissal over his support for Palestine, has now issued an impassioned defense of the singer.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Ed Sheeran is set to resume his tour Saturday — possibly solo — after all his supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with opener Macklemore, who was dropped after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of act
Adjective
  • Difficult or disruptive events can create opportunities to enact changes or policies that would be hard to implement during normal times.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • According to the investigation, the shooting began as a road-rage dispute between the garbage truck driver, who was performing his normal route, and occupants of a white box truck that was blocking the roadway, the release stated.
    — Keily Alfonzo, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • The formal rooms have also been adapted to contemporary life.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The decision to construct the film around precisely five-minute takes presents a formidable formal and technical challenge.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • There will be three races held in the United States once again, each retaining their usual date slots.
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • To Diana, who has taken over First Desk at the Park after last season’s events, River’s refusal to take bereavement leave gives her license to speak about his grandfather’s funeral arrangements with her usual cool formality.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of usual
Noun
  • Fill ruts, depressions, and holes with topsoil and either turf or plants.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Inter Miami has been stuck in a rut of late with just one win over the past eight games.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of rut
Noun
  • Jukes is a year younger than McQuillen, but during club season at 1st Alliance, the two compete against each other during practice.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Ars Video The three researchers from Hacktron AI, a small security company, were paid $6,500 by OpenAI as part of a bug bounty program, a common practice where tech companies pay ethical hackers to test their security.
    — Cristina Criddle, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of practice

Browse Nearby Words

routeways
routine
routinely
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Cite this Entry

“Routine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routine. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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