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
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
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2026
Once dominated by older consumers focused on preventative health, today the category is increasingly driven by younger shoppers interested in performance, personalization and daily wellness routines.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
The Towson location’s approach—pairing a behavioral nudge with a small reward—has turned a routine fast-food visit into a conversation about habits many people share.
—Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for routine
Noun
Forget time-consuming beauty routines and grab No7’s Restore and Renew Multi-Action serum to give your skin a gorgeous, natural glow.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2026
Once dominated by older consumers focused on preventative health, today the category is increasingly driven by younger shoppers interested in performance, personalization and daily wellness routines.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Preventive care, which includes routine screenings and annual checkups, is key to identifying health risks early and supporting long-term well-being.
—NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
The Towson location’s approach—pairing a behavioral nudge with a small reward—has turned a routine fast-food visit into a conversation about habits many people share.
—Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for routine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for routine
Noun
-
Hurts Like Hell has a kind of mythic separation from the daily grind that was so present in Cornfield’s earlier work.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
-
He's been in the grind and on the journey for a long time, playing guitar, writing and even doing some dancing for other headliners.—
Tony Peterson,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The exercise started in spring 2023 as Phelps grew frustrated with the reality that students were using generative AI and online translation platforms to churn out grammatically perfect assignments.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
If exercise is your #1 reason for picking up a wearable, the Fitbit Charge 6 is going to rock your world with a 25% discount.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Those are fighting words, and, in the coming days, the Pope can counter them as much through symbolic acts as through words of peace.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
-
For certain great artists, Meis believes, the creative act is a safe harbor where life’s pressures, exigencies, and calamities aren’t so much denied or resolved as reimagined as pictorial dramas.—
Jed Perl,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The mall resumed operations as normal following the shooting, as police determined there was no threat to the general public.—
Andrew Adeolu,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Waymo vehicles also can take 30 minutes to wait for and twice as long as a normal ride.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Upstairs at Place, things are a little more formal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Motsepe’s name as a future ANC leader often appears in fragments — in business conversations, in official corridors, in the soft intelligence that travels ahead of formal politics.—
Sam Mkokeli,
semafor.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The tank was placed on the ice March 10 and fell through by March 25, weeks earlier than usual.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The injury riddled Kings — playing their second game in 24 hours and their third in four nights — were even more shorthanded than usual.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Marlins under this owner have no reasonable way out of this rut of building on the cheap toward a future that never gets here.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 27,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Regular theme-parkgoers may find themselves in ruts, making favorites their top priority while avoiding others out of habit.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The school's practices allowed people to get massage therapy licenses without finishing the required training, according to TDLR.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Turner added that the conditions Kaiko was in were the direct result of backyard breeding practices that prioritize profit over animal welfare.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Routine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routine. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
