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usual

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word usual distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

my usual order for lunch

How is accustomed related to other words for usual?

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

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

In what contexts can customary take the place of usual?

The words customary and usual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When could habitual be used to replace usual?

Although the words habitual and usual have much in common, habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

When is wonted a more appropriate choice than usual?

The words wonted and usual can be used in similar contexts, but 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 usual
Adjective
Ebonē Colbert ordered her usual on her weekly trip to Wendy's with her son: a kid’s meal with a plain cheeseburger for him and a Dave’s Single, a burger topped with lettuce and tomato, for herself. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022 On the first day back, Evans ordered his usual: a single cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022
Noun
Funds for the program are allocated monthly, so October benefits went out as usual despite the government shutdown. Melina Khan, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025 As far as precipitation, West Tennessee and parts of Middle Tennessee are forecasted to receive 33–40% more precipitation than usual. Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for usual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usual
Adjective
  • After being integrated, this system will demonstrate its capabilities in live-fire tests – advancing the Department of War’s effort to evaluate and accelerate new, cost-effective strike capabilities for conventional deterrence.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Studies show operating emissions for rail can be as low as 31 g CO₂e per passenger-km on electrified routes, a number far below many conventional car or plane comparisons.
    Chelsea Haney October 25, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts near-to-above normal snowfall on the Ohio Valley's eastern side, which includes Pittsburgh and Charleston, South Carolina, and a below-normal amount on the western side, near the southern tip of Illinois.
    Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Those in the control group were simply asked to maintain their normal daily activities throughout the study and were not assigned any strength programming.
    Peter Mason, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Future of eVTOLs In the longer term, Goldstein sees a future where eVTOLs are ubiquitous in the skies above American cities, flying in designated, but invisible, sky highways to ensure safety.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • There’s the ubiquitous sloshing of bright red hurricanes in curvaceous cocktail glasses, the sizzling of beignets in fryers and the bubbling of boiling crawfish on stovetops.
    Matt Alderton, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Alila Napa Valley goes beyond the ordinary by offering unforgettable experiences designed to captivate modern travelers, especially Xennials.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • De Marco was wearing his customary suit; Imperiale was in a white T-shirt, pants, and slippers, and apparently did not enjoy the sartorial imbalance.
    Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
  • As has become customary in the early part of this season, the Cates line was the Flyers’ best and most consistent in their 2-1 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
    Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Fans at the 1,860-capacity venue left their typical symphony attire hanging in their closets.
    Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Burbank added that a typical zone 2 session lasts about 30 minutes, but can extend to 120 minutes depending on your training goals.
    Brian Mastroianni, Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Devils’ broadcast team on MSG Network for Wednesday night included Minnesota native Rachel Herzog and retired goaltender Cory Schneider, who was very familiar to Wild fans a decade or so ago.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Elderly consumers, who might seek gentle relief for aches or the comfort of a familiar ritual, are left stranded.
    Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The number of foreign residents has risen sharply in recent years, reaching a record 3 percent of the population in 2024, as Tokyo cautiously loosened visa rules for workers in key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and caregiving.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • However, Laporta has now become closer to La Liga president Tebas, as Barca have looked for more flexibility in meeting the competition’s strict financial sustainability rules.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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