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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

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
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
Noun
What starts as a simple favor to keep her great-niece turns into a wild Halloween night filled with jump scares and pranks — but as usual, nothing frightens her more than bad manners and disrespect. Boo 2! Jane Lacroix, People.com, 13 July 2025 As usual, Middleton was sporting princess nails, a barely-there blush manicure trend that was practically named after her. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for usual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usual
Adjective
  • For more details on the nature of conventional AI versus AGI and ASI, see my analysis at the link here.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • These stories reveal new information, challenge conventional thinking, inform policymakers and the public, shine light on wrongdoing.
    Greg Borowski, jsonline.com, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Newsweek has contacted the White House press office for comment outside of normal business hours.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
  • By morning, service on the subway had resumed on a normal schedule.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • But though artificial intelligence has become nearly ubiquitous, from smartphones to chatbots to self-driving cars, its impact on health care so far has been relatively low.
    Turgay Ayer, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
  • Fabrications for a modern game of show-and-tell range from clear tonal plastics to silver mesh but easily the strongest concepts come in rope — direct off the runway of bohemian Chloé and ‘It’ girl cool Miu Miu, proposing a winking upgrade to the ubiquitous raffia accessories of summer.
    Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Alila Napa Valley goes beyond the ordinary by offering unforgettable experiences designed to captivate modern travelers, especially Xennials.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The couple have often walked red carpets together, so it certainly wouldn’t be considered out of the ordinary for the 37-year-old to walk the Golden Globes red carpet alongside her beau as his plus-one.
    Sam Reed, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The court did not explain its decision in favor of Trump, as is customary in emergency appeals.
    Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • In a sport where sunglasses haven’t been customary on the pro tour, RIA Eyewear entered the space five years ago with a tennis-specific lens and frame, steadily building a bridge between the world of tennis and sunglasses.
    Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • The size of a typical studio apartment is 500 to 600 square feet.
    Kate Talerico, Mercury News, 14 July 2025
  • Over a 40-year career, the typical Black woman will lose approximately $1 million compared to her white male co-workers.
    Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Blackpink superstar joined the F1 soundtrack, which is packed with familiar musicians across a variety of genres.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • As more travelers arrive, so do the familiar questions about how to grow tourism without diluting what makes a place special.
    Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Around the country, state lawmakers are twisting tax codes, raiding campus funds and rewriting financial rules to keep their flagship programs competitive.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 July 2025
  • The rules on how the league decides on replacements are not public.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 12 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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