run-of-the-mill

adjective

ˌrən-ə(v)-t͟hə-ˈmil How to pronounce run-of-the-mill (audio)
Definition of run-of-the-millnext
1
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events just another run-of-the-mill suburb with its shopping malls and fast-food restaurants

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ordinary
of average to below average quality his latest offering is rather run-of-the-mill for this usually excellent novelist

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 run-of-the-mill Residents say their reports of the theft — like their complaints of other crimes — go unheeded because their 2-year-old apartment building lies in a law enforcement no man’s land where no police agency has the power or resources to investigate and prosecute run-of-the-mill crime. — Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 This clever plug can transform any run-of-the-mill appliance into a smart device. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026 From Bugattis to Ferraris and your run-of-the-mill Germans, the quest for versatility has delivered both great and horrible things to supercar owners. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 24 June 2026 The product comes with 12 vials of potent serum and cream that, as the price tag indicates, aren’t made with run-of-the-mill ingredients. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for run-of-the-mill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for run-of-the-mill
  1. normal
  2. ordinary
  3. usual
  4. decent
  5. typical
  6. mediocre
  7. average
  8. satisfactory
Adjective
  • The sensor returned to normal after Menon doffed the suit, but NASA took some extra time to make sure there was no serious issue.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Restrictive eating and other disordered eating behaviors can start to feel very normal when your whole algorithm is feeding you back-to-back tips on how to shrink yourself.
    — Miranda Roberts, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of normal
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
  • Its separate entrance, elevators, and staff have always set it apart from the surrounding casino ecosystem, offering a smoke-free, gaming-free environment with all the brand’s usual service signatures.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • For example, someone who is comfortable walking for 30 minutes could walk at their usual pace for several minutes, then pick it up for a minute or two before slowing down again.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of usual
Adjective
  • The perfect size for a daypack, this backpack is large enough to fit a decent amount, such as a book, large headphones, a sweater, snacks and a water bottle, alongside your basic essentials like your wallet, phone and keys.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • No such problems with following the play existed at Tranmere, where, even in the 1980s, their long-term home afforded a decent view from behind both goals.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of decent
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
  • Fernandes has some concerns as a lower volume striker, and his wrestling is mediocre.
    — Brett Appley, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • But that enthusiasm once led him to buy five wooden boxes in a single haul, several of which were mediocre and three of which needed repairs.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of mediocre
Adjective
  • His overall offensive touch and instincts are average, but there’s enough to his game to be a potential third-line forward, maybe even as a center.
    — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The speed at which participants first focused on an image, and the average length of time participants spent looking at each image, were both recorded and turned into a score.
    — Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of average
Adjective
  • By contrast, state inspection records from 2025 and the first weeks of 2026, just days after Calvo took office in January, show the city’s pool facilities were consistently rated satisfactory.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2026
  • For someone who is dogmatic, or has a strong commitment to evangelism, this may not be satisfactory.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of satisfactory

Browse Nearby Words

run off with
run-of-the-mill
run-of-the-mine
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Cite this Entry

“Run-of-the-mill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/run-of-the-mill. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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