Definition of usualnext
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usual

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word usual distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of usual are accustomed, customary, habitual, and wonted. While all these words mean "familiar through frequent or regular repetition," usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

How is accustomed related to other words for usual?

Accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

In what contexts can customary take the place of usual?

The words customary and usual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

When could habitual be used to replace usual?

Although the words habitual and usual have much in common, habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

When is wonted a more appropriate choice than usual?

The words wonted and usual can be used in similar contexts, but wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

How is the word usual distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of usual are accustomed, customary, habitual, and wonted. While all these words mean "familiar through frequent or regular repetition," usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

How is accustomed related to other words for usual?

Accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

In what contexts can customary take the place of usual?

The words customary and usual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

When could habitual be used to replace usual?

Although the words habitual and usual have much in common, habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

When is wonted a more appropriate choice than usual?

The words wonted and usual can be used in similar contexts, but wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

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 usual
Adjective
March Social Security checks will be sent to recipients in the coming weeks, with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits arriving earlier than usual. Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 1 Mar. 2026 But while his usual starters are away representing their country, the Red Sox manager plans to take a closer look at some of the organization’s other top talents. Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
Ebonē Colbert ordered her usual on her weekly trip to Wendy's with her son: a kid’s meal with a plain cheeseburger for him and a Dave’s Single, a burger topped with lettuce and tomato, for herself. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022 On the first day back, Evans ordered his usual: a single cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 See All Example Sentences for usual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usual
Adjective
  • Powered by four jet engines, the B-2 can carry conventional or nuclear weapons, with intercontinental range and aerial refueling.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
  • It is built by Raytheon, a unit of RTX, and carries a conventional warhead.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Above normal precipitation chances are also expected to continue into the second week of the month, according to the Climate Prediction Center.
    Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
  • While some initial tingling is normal, rest assured that aloe vera, honey, and vitamin E soothe and add moisture back into the skin—great news for those whose skin errs on the drier side.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Currently, some of Europe’s best basketball teams (including Turkey’s Fenerbahçe Beko and Greece’s Olympiacos Piraeus) aren’t connected to its largest media markets, dampening ubiquitous continental interest in the sport and lowering its television value.
    Alex Sherman, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
  • SUVs are ubiquitous, in other words, though few of them are memorable or truly great.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Like his perceptive doc about Joy Division, Everybody Digs Bill Evans is about the ordinary that feeds the extraordinary and leaves us to figure out the rest for ourselves.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
  • At first glance, there was nothing out of the ordinary about Saturday’s wind forecast for Camas Prairie, Idaho.
    Ruby Mellen, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • It customary for an air of mystery to surround the burials of drug lords in Mexico, something their supporters take advantage of to try to elevate them to legend.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
  • The company works with regional specialists to help ensure that employment practices reflect local requirements and customary standards.
    Kaitlyn Gomez, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The Supreme Court seemed likely Monday to loosen a federal law that bars marijuana users from owning guns in a case that crossed typical political lines.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
  • And the median career length of a typical MLB player is just three years.
    Paul Bledsoe, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Goodbye to the ‘iPad kid’ era Kids glued to their tablets have become a familiar sight at restaurants.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Love is familiar to audiences, after having acted in TV and movie projects since at least 2010.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • States depend on the money for recovery and mitigation, but over $14 billion had been stalled amid strict Homeland Security spending rules.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The broadcast signal remains governed by mid-20th century assumptions, while the digital ecosystem operates under an entirely different set of rules.
    Jay Caruso, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

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