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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
Temperatures on Friday are expected to be near normal, at 78 degrees. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025 Short-Term Stress Temporarily Spikes Blood Pressure Temporary spikes in blood pressure in response to acute (short-term) stress are normal and expected. Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 28 May 2025
Noun
Normal snow range is the three-decade averages of climate normals from 1991-2020. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025 This year’s small audience decline is pretty on par with other award shows recently, suggesting that these ceremonies might be settling into a new normal after all of them saw viewership tank in 2020. Katie Campione, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for normal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for normal
Adjective
  • Stephen King’s novella about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz.
    Andrew Torgan, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
  • During the 2014 Western Conference final, the Los Angeles captain — who was in the midst of playing 64 extra games in a 26-month span — was asked why his Kings were so impressive in the postseason, but so ordinary in the regular season.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • Having stabilized their bank balances and secured pay rises, consumers are now spending in anticipation of a more stable interest rate and price environment, according to the economist.
    Ganesh Rao,Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 23 May 2025
  • The threat of severe weather is conditional on the position of a warm front in the area and whether temperatures are too cool and stable for storms to develop.
    Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • While that dealer’s price is more in line with typical used car depreciation, the Foundation series was at one time selling at wildly inflated prices on the used market due to high demand.
    Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • The five plaintiffs are asking a Superior Court judge to render the city’s advancement of the typical $47.59-per-month trash fee null and void.
    Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • For noncitizens, during last year’s Labor Day weekend, travelers waited an average of 113 minutes and during the biggest backup, at least one unlucky passenger waited 245 minutes, or more than four hours, to make it through customs.
    Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
  • Among players with at least 70 receptions last season, McMillan ranked No. 2 nationally in off-target reception percentage at 18.5, more than six points higher than the average in that category.
    Joseph Person, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • When the Grand National Tour stopped in Arizona on Wednesday (May 27), SZA was doing her usual pre-show ritual of greeting fans outside during her NOT Beauty pop-up.
    Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 29 May 2025
  • Recruiters are no longer confined to hiring in the same usual saturated areas, benefiting emerging tech hubs.
    Nacho De Marco, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • Quickly, however, through lucid details and retellings from T.S.O.L. singer Jack Grisham and the Nest’s owner Jerry Roach, things get sweaty, wild, and loud — setting the frenetic tone for the rest of the book.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 May 2025
  • Another showed that people could reduce nightmares by essentially taking control of them in a lucid dream state.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Newsweek contacted the company for comment on Tuesday, outside of standard business hours.
    Joe Edwards Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
  • Specs In Line With The Realme GT 7 Internally, the Realme GT 7 Dream Edition is similar to the standard GT 7.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • India’s Hindu nationalist prime minister, Narendra Modi, has likewise been compared to Trump in his populist appeal, majoritarian rhetoric, and dismantling of democratic norms.
    Joshua Keating, Vox, 23 May 2025
  • The Senate vote proceeded in defiance of the parliamentarian’s ruling, marking a stunning rebuke of congressional norms.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Normal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/normal. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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