NORMAL Synonyms: 257 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'normal' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of normal are natural , regular , and typical . While all these words mean "being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average," normal implies lack of deviation from what has been discovered or established as the most usual or expected. // normal behavior for a two-year-old

Q: In what contexts can 'natural' take the place of 'normal'?

The meanings of natural and normal largely overlap; however, natural applies to what conforms to a thing's essential nature, function, or mode of being. // the natural love of a mother for her child

Q: When is 'regular' a more appropriate choice than 'normal'?

While in some cases nearly identical to normal , regular stresses conformity to a rule, standard, or pattern. // the club's regular monthly meeting

Q: When might 'typical' be a better fit than 'normal'?

The words typical and normal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, typical implies showing all important traits of a type, class, or group and may suggest lack of strong individuality. // a typical small town

normal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈnȯr-məl

Definition of normal next

as in ordinary

being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events that fateful day had begun just like any normal workday

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stable

having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions if you run around screaming like that, no one will think you are normal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in typical

having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind she has normal reading abilities for a child her age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

normal

2 of 2

noun

as in average

what is typical of a group, class, or series a temperature chart showing the normals and extremes for various regions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective normal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of normal are natural, regular, and typical. While all these words mean "being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average," normal implies lack of deviation from what has been discovered or established as the most usual or expected.

normal behavior for a two-year-old

In what contexts can natural take the place of normal?

The meanings of natural and normal largely overlap; however, natural applies to what conforms to a thing's essential nature, function, or mode of being.

the natural love of a mother for her child

When is regular a more appropriate choice than normal?

While in some cases nearly identical to normal, regular stresses conformity to a rule, standard, or pattern.

the club's regular monthly meeting

When might typical be a better fit than normal?

The words typical and normal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, typical implies showing all important traits of a type, class, or group and may suggest lack of strong individuality.

a typical small town

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 normal

Adjective

Under threat is the tax code's treatment of the profits of private equity, venture capital and hedge fund managers who pay a lower rate on their share of profits because these returns are taxed as capital gains instead of normal employment income. —

Allison McNeelyand Dawn Lim Bloomberg News (wpns), arkansasonline.com, 8 Feb. 2025 The Hornets were proactive in a normal way, unlike the Mavericks. —

J. Robbins, J. Edwards and D. Mayberry, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025

Noun

This includes both the monthly and daily normals of precipitation, temperature, snowfall, heating and cooling degree days, growing-degree days, as well as frost and freeze dates spanning across close to 15,000 different observation sites. —

Meredith Garofalo, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2024 For the new normal to be economically sustainable, streamers need to do a better job of optimizing their viewers’ time and attention. —

Jonathan Bing, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for normal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for normal

Adjective

Elsewhere, the Juno Fan Choice category, voted on by ordinary movie lovers, has nominations for The Weeknd, McCrae, Mendes, Ross, bbno$, Dean Brody, Jade Eagleson, Karan Aujla, Les Cowboys Fringents Les Disques and Preston Pablo.

— Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
At Large follows two best friends, Bill and Joe, who are ordinary dads and electrical repairmen.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2025