as in routines
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity
I've fallen into a rut, watching television and then going to bed every night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 ruts
However, any potholes or large ruts will throw everything off.
—
Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Steep hills, ruts and low-traction surfaces were easily navigable.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Meal planning ruts can plague lunchtime, too, after all.
—Alexis Berger, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
Steep hills, ruts and low-traction surfaces were easily navigable.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Steep hills, ruts and low-traction surfaces were easily navigable.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Meal planning ruts can plague lunchtime, too, after all.
—Alexis Berger, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
Steep hills, ruts and low-traction surfaces were easily navigable.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruts
Noun
-
The everything shower has nothing on our PEOPLE testers’ routines.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
-
In addition, people may experience anxiety or depression related to summer's end and the return to school and work routines, Prism Medical Products says.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
German luggage a popular choice A couple of players, including cornerback Trent McDuffie, traveled with Rimowa suitcases, recognized by the characteristic parallel grooves on the aluminum bags.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Autocomplete functions recycle common word sequences, and even repeat common typos, locking language into predictable grooves.—
Ted Ladd,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
It’s finished with a generous sprinkling of salt and a few grinds of black pepper.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
And Destiny 2 has had some bad grinds in the past.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruts. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share