Synonym Chooser

How is the word customary distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of customary are accustomed, habitual, usual, and wonted. While all these words mean "familiar through frequent or regular repetition," 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

How does the word accustomed relate to other synonyms for customary?

Accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

When is it sensible to use habitual instead of customary?

In some situations, the words habitual and customary are roughly equivalent. However, habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

When might usual be a better fit than customary?

While the synonyms usual and customary are close in meaning, usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

When is wonted a more appropriate choice than customary?

The meanings of wonted and customary largely overlap; however, 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 customary Next in line is the Sixers-Celtics lead-in (5.16 million), followed by Spurs-Knicks in the Knickerbockers’ customary noon E.T. slot (4.91 million). Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 Mar. 2025 President Richard Nixon was the first modern president to publicize his medical exam, which has since then become customary practice. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025 But, about halfway into the story, Proulx abandons her customary prose style, which is as coiled as a rattlesnake and about as sentimental, in order to cut loose and give the boys their first moment of physical tenderness. Michael Cunningham, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025 Riordan triumphed in its playoff opener, but not in its customary one-sided style. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for customary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for customary
Adjective
  • The Billboard Artist aims to showcase musicians from fresh, unexpected angles going beyond their usual image to create something truly special.
    Billboard Korea, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2025
  • But the dark clouds, in the form of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, are more ominous than usual.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Her focus is less on traditional metrics like follower count and more on the creator’s ability to create compelling, educational content that aligns well with brands.
    Kristen Bousquet, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • That’s because this hydroponic system eliminates every traditional gardening hurdle—no soil, no overwatering, and no risk of a shriveled plant graveyard on your windowsill.
    Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Water Conservation: Unlike conventional farming, where excessive water use leads to runoff and waste, Oishii’s system recycles a whopping 95% of its water.
    Chrissy Tracey, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The couple described their path to parenthood as anything but conventional.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Now, 46 percent say Trump is to blame for current economic conditions, while 41 percent say Biden is to blame.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Another statute modeled on the California statute and modified to its current form shortly before the UPEPA was completed, but falsely criticized for reasons relating more to the antiquated Texas Practice & Procedure Code than the statute itself. Vermont ...
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Customary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/customary. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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