wont 1 of 3

Definition of wontnext

wont

2 of 3

noun

wont

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun wont differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of wont are custom, habit, practice, and usage. While all these words mean "a way of acting fixed through repetition," wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

as was her wont, she slept until noon

When could custom be used to replace wont?

The words custom and wont are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.

the custom of wearing black at funerals

When might habit be a better fit than wont?

While the synonyms habit and wont are close in meaning, habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

Where would practice be a reasonable alternative to wont?

The synonyms practice and wont are sometimes interchangeable, but practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

When would usage be a good substitute for wont?

Although the words usage and wont have much in common, usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.

western-style dress is now common usage in international business

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wont
Adjective
  • The examples include two auto body repair and used car facilities directly across the street.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 4 May 2026
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law last July 4, ended the tax breaks — which were worth up to $7,500 for new EVs and up to $4,000 for used EVs — effective at the end of September 2025.
    Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 3 May 2026
Noun
  • Why are Americans waiting for the federal government to change local and regional habits to meet the challenges of climate change?
    Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
  • Reddit users in Millennial communities have framed the moment as a return to childhood and pre-digital habits, talking less about productivity and more about joy.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • And yet dealmaking, the act that initiates the entire relationship, operates in a kind of contractual no-man’s-land where no clock runs and no consequence attaches to delay.
    George Heller, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
  • Chinese state media proactively publicized the visit late Tuesday, citing a foreign ministry statement that noted Beijing initiated the invitation.
    Evelyn Cheng,Anniek Bao, CNBC, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • The candidate has become accustomed to comical mailroom interactions with his neighbors, who are routinely delivered fliers emblazoned with his face.
    Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
  • The dragons had become accustomed to the grisly ritual.
    Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • Many of his later programs have been capped by a coda in which the tricks of the trade are laid bare—no trick being more vital than that of extreme patience, with camera operators waiting days, or even weeks, for the right cub, or pup, or fledgling, or froglet, to show up.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
  • There is not a whole lot to chuckle about these days, and her column does the trick for me every week.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, said Kyiv had informed Israeli authorities about the vessels in advance.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Luckily, the hunters brought the deer to a butcher who then informed EnCon police.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Following Friday’s pregame festivities, Pedro Martinez made his way up to the press box and said standing on the field with his fellow club legends gave him goosebumps.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
  • The Moon in Aquarius moves through your 12th House and trines Venus in Gemini, helping reflection and emotional clarity work in practical ways.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • The heated chamber was thoughtfully oriented toward the lake for a tranquil water view, which allows Henkemeyer to relax, reflect, and connect with her roots.
    Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026
  • New York City’s ambitious administration led by Mayor Zohran Mamdani has a new Film Commissioner very much in the mold — youthful, aspirational and goal-oriented.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 May 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Wont.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wont. Accessed 9 May. 2026.

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