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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
The sunny, bubbly bon vivant is staying upbeat, and looking at the positives, per usual. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025 As usual, in certain markets, Samsung may continue to load the S26 with Exynos chips. PC Magazine, 4 Nov. 2025
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
  • The sector’s climate impact has made decarbonization a priority, and SAF is considered one of the most viable alternatives to conventional jet fuel.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • His own composer as usual, Amenabar here tends to underline the film’s shortcomings, rather than elevate its idiosyncrasies with an original score that’s too conventional by half.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Delays start to increase On Day 31 of the 2019 shutdown, 10% of TSA workers called in sick - triple the normal absence rate.
    Doyinsola Oladipo, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Even though there were rumors about layoffs the day before, everything had seemed relatively normal.
    Lea Chen, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Her heels are crafted from satin — a ubiquitous look this fall — and are set on a 110mm heel.
    Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
  • For people under 30, who may not even remember a time when influencers were not ubiquitous, as well as all manner of marketers and salespeople, the term’s connotations tend to be neutral to positive.
    Judy Berman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Chelsea have had their fair share of entertainers since making their debut in the tournament — the individuals who can just do something out of the ordinary to make everyone realise they are being treated to a game at the highest level.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Alila Napa Valley goes beyond the ordinary by offering unforgettable experiences designed to captivate modern travelers, especially Xennials.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • There was no customary surge in gas prices over the summer, and fuel costs began the most recent decline as autumn arrived.
    Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The closing is expected to happen during the first quarter of 2026, subject to certain conditions, including customary regulatory approvals and payment of the purchase price.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • All are dressed in period garb — Clarkson in a gorgeous gown and her band, My Band Y’all, led by musical director and keyboardist Jason Halbert, in formal white dinner jackets typical of musical acts at the time.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Alternatives to typical iron supplements to consider include intravenous (IV) iron, slow-release oral iron tablets, and dietary iron.
    Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Here, Hunter returns to a familiar figure in Stock’s Ethan, a writer who made it out of small-town Idaho for college and then a life in Seattle, but whose career is flagging and bank account is running dry.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
  • But those who’ve watched the Blackhawks on a nightly basis know Spencer Knight has been masking some familiar defensive deficiencies.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The number of foreign residents has risen sharply in recent years, reaching a record 3 percent of the population in 2024, as Tokyo cautiously loosened visa rules for workers in key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and caregiving.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • However, Laporta has now become closer to La Liga president Tebas, as Barca have looked for more flexibility in meeting the competition’s strict financial sustainability rules.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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