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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
Follicle cysts form when the tiny sac (called a follicle) that houses the maturing egg during your cycle doesn’t break open as usual to release said egg. Korin Miller, SELF, 22 Apr. 2025 The harvest and fermentation proceed as usual, and the wine ferments completely dry to an alcohol content of 11–12%. Per and Britt Karlsson, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 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
  • Until Black Panther’s record breaking $235 million opening, conventional industry wisdom held that films with predominantly Black casts typically underperform financially overseas.
    Chris Lee, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The conventional non-AI approach is the classic client-therapist relationship.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Seeing the color Olo needed specific stimulation to push the vision beyond its normal limits.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Such intimidation may be normal in Putin's Russia, not in the civilized world!
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This development mirrors the revolutionary vision of personal computing, suggesting a future where AI agents could become as ubiquitous as desktop computers. 2.
    Gaurav Pathak, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • And although offal may never become as ubiquitous as muscle meat in American diets, more people eating organ meats could come with some positives.
    Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 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 deal is expected to close in the third quarter pending customary approvals.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and is expected to close in Q3 2025.
    Joe Otterson, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Some might offer better support than others or have a more natural resting spot for thumbs, but to greater or lesser extents, a good mouse is sculpted to fit the arch of the typical human hand.
    Matt Kamen, Wired News, 20 Apr. 2025
  • In a typical spring, apply the herbicide in early to mid-April.
    Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Kaye’s version, if the full title isn’t clear enough, has a familiar outline: First-gen immigrants become parents in the West, hoping their sacrifices will be rewarded with a doctor or lawyer child; child goes another way; conflict ensues.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
  • In so doing, Francis' steps did not always follow familiar paths.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The only issue with the price Chelsea Women was sold for was that they were bought by their parent company in a move that helped the men’s team comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) in 2023-24.
    Matt Slater, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The top attorney for a California board that enforces labor rules said Thursday that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office may have violated state law over its handling of an order directing many public employees to work in person four days a week.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 18 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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