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 At least 76 heritage sites and 20 museums have been ransacked by the RSF and run-of-the-mill thieves, officials say, carting off an archaeological haul worth more than $150 million. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Newcastle United do not do run-of-the-mill summer windows anymore. — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Powerless even against the most run-of-the-mill villains, the men casually harassing her at the diner. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026 Life had changed drastically for all of them, naturally — there were now dealing with mortgages, children, marital strife, health issues, and your run-of-the-mill middle-age malaise. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 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
  • There’s no telling how long these discounts will last, so be sure to find the one that fits your cleaning needs before prices return to normal.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The latest Santa Ana wind event moving through Southern California will peak Saturday, but higher-than-normal temperatures and elevated fire risk will remain through next week.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Observe one ordinary stretch of your day without immediately trying to improve it.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Judges, civil-rights lawyers, academics, election officials, curators, artists, and countless ordinary citizens stood up.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Breakfast is à la carte, with all the usual suspects, including shakshuka and avocado toast, and silver pots filled with high-octane coffee.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • So, the high-scoring Lakers just had to play to their usual effort.
    — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of usual
Adjective
  • Motorists were able to get around alright within individual cities and towns, but there was no decent network connecting them.
    — Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The defense is elite, the team has a decent schedule, and the offense is ranked 12th in the NFL in yards per game.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • The first Taibaan film raised THB2 million ($59,000), or THB4 million ($119,000) including marketing, and grossed THB35 million ($1 million), in a market where a typical Thai feature costs THB30 million ($891,000) or more.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Vagabond Haven The interior measures 59 sq m (635 sq ft), spread over two floors, offering significantly more room to move around in than a typical towable tiny house.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of typical
Adjective
  • They were blown out 31-3 by Ole Miss, lost to what's clearly a mediocre Mississippi State team, though at least that was with Kamario Taylor, but their big win over Florida now looks much less impressive considering the Gators' collapse.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The best, the least mediocre, unfortunately, is Tadao Ando, the better of whose work derives from Kahn, the plain modular rectangles made of concrete framed by verticals and, less clear even in Kahn, the geometric cuts and sections.
    — Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of mediocre
Adjective
  • In 2025, the average accident-only pet insurance premium was $112 for cats and $190 for dogs, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • West Aurora also saw improvement in its average math scores on the ACT, but saw a slight decline in ELA.
    — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of average
Adjective
  • Why not, then, return to 2016 spending amounts which seemed satisfactory at the time?
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Harriot quickly found a convenient formula for how many were arranged in a square pyramid based on the number in the bottom row and was able to present Raleigh with a satisfactory solution.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 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 11 Nov. 2026.

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