ORDINARY Synonyms: 220 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'ordinary' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ordinary are common , familiar , plain , popular , and vulgar . While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things. // an ordinary pleasant summer day // a very ordinary sort of man

Q: When would 'common' be a good substitute for 'ordinary'?

While in some cases nearly identical to ordinary , common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness. // a common error // lacked common honesty // common manners

Q: When is it sensible to use 'familiar' instead of 'ordinary'?

Although the words familiar and ordinary have much in common, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized. // a familiar melody

Q: Where would 'plain' be a reasonable alternative to 'ordinary'?

The words plain and ordinary can be used in similar contexts, but plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity. // plain hard-working people

Q: In what contexts can 'popular' take the place of 'ordinary'?

While the synonyms popular and ordinary are close in meaning, popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups. // a writer of popular romances

Q: How do 'vulgar' and 'popular' relate to one another, in the sense of 'ordinary'?

Vulgar , otherwise similar to popular , is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness). // souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

ordinary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈȯr-də-ˌner-ē

Definition of ordinary next

as in normal

being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events it was a perfectly ordinary and undistinguished shirt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in decent

of average to below average quality the pizza at that restaurant is just ordinary—it's nothing to write home about

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in usual

often observed or encountered an ordinary hairstyle for boys of that age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ordinary

2 of 2

noun

as in commonplace

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ordinary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ordinary are common, familiar, plain, popular, and vulgar. While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

an ordinary pleasant summer day

a very ordinary sort of man

When would common be a good substitute for ordinary?

While in some cases nearly identical to ordinary, common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

a common error

lacked common honesty

common manners

When is it sensible to use familiar instead of ordinary?

Although the words familiar and ordinary have much in common, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

Where would plain be a reasonable alternative to ordinary?

The words plain and ordinary can be used in similar contexts, but plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

In what contexts can popular take the place of ordinary?

While the synonyms popular and ordinary are close in meaning, popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.

a writer of popular romances

How do vulgar and popular relate to one another, in the sense of ordinary?

Vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).

souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of ordinary

Adjective

The filing also notes that the trust's only ordinary recurring operating expense is the sponsor's annual fee of 0.10% of the net asset value, payable monthly in arrears. —

Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 5 Feb. 2025 Soon after the Russian invasion, academics at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv and other institutions began documenting the effects of the war on the inner lives of ordinary people. —

Mireille Juchau, The Dial, 4 Feb. 2025

Noun

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 These pieces can transform one’s daily bathing ritual from an ordinary to a spa-like experience. —

Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ordinary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordinary

Adjective

Instead, enter the address yourself, or use the normal method of clicking on your Google avatar in Gmail, for example.

— Davey Winder, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2025
Nico Harrison is not going to be in his normal seat in the stands.

— Toria Sheffield, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025