CUSTOM Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'custom' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of custom are habit , practice , usage , and wont . While all these words mean "a way of acting fixed through repetition," 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

Q: When can 'habit' be used instead of 'custom'?

Although the words habit and custom have much in common, habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively. // had a habit of tapping his fingers

Q: When is 'practice' a more appropriate choice than 'custom'?

In some situations, the words practice and custom are roughly equivalent. However, practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice. // our practice is to honor all major credit cards

Q: Where would 'usage' be a reasonable alternative to 'custom'?

The synonyms usage and custom are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

Q: In what contexts can 'wont' take the place of 'custom'?

The words wont and custom are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group. // as was her wont , she slept until noon

custom 1 of 2

noun

ˈkə-stəm

Definition of custom next

as in ritual

a usual manner of behaving or doing it is my custom to have half a bagel and coffee for breakfast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in tradition

an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing the custom around here is that the bride's family pays for the wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in business

transactions or economic support provided by customers that restaurant certainly lost my custom after they were cited for health code violations

Synonyms & Similar Words

custom

2 of 2

adjective

as in customized

made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer that business tycoon wears only custom suits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun custom differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of custom are habit, practice, usage, and wont. While all these words mean "a way of acting fixed through repetition," 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 can habit be used instead of custom?

Although the words habit and custom have much in common, habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

When is practice a more appropriate choice than custom?

In some situations, the words practice and custom are roughly equivalent. However, practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

Where would usage be a reasonable alternative to custom?

The synonyms usage and custom are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

In what contexts can wont take the place of custom?

The words wont and custom are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

as was her wont, she slept until noon

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 custom

Noun

LinkedIn is testing a new job-hunting tool that uses a custom large language model to comb through huge quantities of data to help people find prospective roles. —

Will Knight, WIRED, 5 Feb. 2025 The rule change is also likely to result in delivery delays since the packages now have to go through customs, Juozas Kaziukenas, founder of e-commerce intelligence firm Marketplace Pulse, told the Associated Press. —

Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025

Adjective

As an expression of gratitude for the holidays, Hurts and Barkley presented each member of the offensive line with a custom, black golf cart displaying their last name and number on the side. —

Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024 Around the same time, Amazon revealed that fellow Club name Apple had been using its custom AI chips. —

Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for custom

Recent Examples of Synonyms for custom

Noun

These rituals will, of course, serve her well with the upcoming tour and music video drops, too.

— Akili King, Essence, 14 Feb. 2025
The sacrifice ritual begins The second season revealed that the group’s initial act of cannibalism was not planned or deliberate.

— Michaela Zee, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025