Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

usual

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of usual

1 accepted, used, or practiced by most people
  • That's not the usual method, but it works!
Synonyms of usual

conventional, current, customary, going, popular, prevailing, prevalent, standard, stock
Words Related to usual

average, common, everyday, normal, ordinary

regular, routine

epidemic, ubiquitous, universal, widespread

accustomed, wonted

fashionable, in, modish, stylish
Near Antonyms of usual

abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, uncommon
Antonyms of usual

nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual
2 being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events
  • The characters in this novel are drawn with greater depth than is usual for a work of science fiction.
Synonyms of usual

average, common, commonplace, cut-and-dried (also cut-and-dry), everyday, garden-variety, normal, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, standard, unexceptional, unremarkable, workaday
Words Related to usual

regular, typical, unextraordinary

familiar, homely, plain, popular, vulgar

natural

customary, wonted

insignificant, trivial, unimportant

frequent, habitual

expected, predictable
Phrases Synonymous with usual

par for the course
Near Antonyms of usual

curious, funny, peculiar, quaint, queer

aberrant, anomalous, atypical, irregular, untypical

rare, scarce

fantastic (also fantastical), phenomenal

bizarre, far-out, outrageous, wacky (also whacky), way-out, weird, wild

eccentric, idiosyncratic, kooky (also kookie), nonconformist, oddball, offbeat, unconventional, unorthodox

freak, freakish

conspicuous, notable, outstanding, prominent, salient, signal, striking, unexampled, unprecedented

singular, unique, unparalleled
Antonyms of usual

abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, odd, out-of-the-way, strange, unusual
3 often observed or encountered
  • The usual reaction to the sight of the falls is one of absolute awe.
Synonyms of usual

common, commonplace, everyday, familiar, frequent, garden-variety, household, ordinary, quotidian, routine, ubiquitous
Words Related to usual

normal, regular, standard

de rigueur, mandatory, obligatory

general, universal

ceaseless, constant, continual, continuous, incessant, unceasing

endemic, popular, prevailing, prevalent, rampant

perennial, recurrent, repeated
Phrases Synonymous with usual

a dime a dozen
Near Antonyms of usual

aberrant, abnormal, irregular, unnatural

intermittent, occasional, sporadic
Antonyms of usual

extraordinary, infrequent, rare, seldom, uncommon, unfamiliar, unusual

Synonym Discussion of usual

usual, customary, habitual, wonted, accustomed mean familiar through frequent or regular repetition. usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.
    • my usual order for lunch
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
habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.
    • a habitual morning routine
wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.
    • his wonted determination
accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.
    • accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

Learn More about usual

  1. Dictionary: Definition of usual Spanish Central: Translation of usual Nglish: Translation of usual for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of usual for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up usual? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games