CUSTOMARY Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

customary

adjective

ˈkə-stə-ˌmer-ē

Definition of customary

as in usual

accepted, used, or practiced by most people the customary response to the greeting "How are you?" is "Fine, thanks"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in traditional

based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation the customary toasting of the bride and groom at their wedding reception

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026 Flanagan’s customary whip pans are here to surprise us with characters lurking outside the frame, but this isn’t a story with many external supernatural threats, and tension doesn’t build. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026 The customary counter and high chairs that once held pecan waffles and smothered hash browns have been replaced with a long bodega-style service counter. — Sheeka Sanahori, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026 And that sum excludes marketing and promotional expenses, as is customary for budgetary estimations. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for customary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for customary

Adjective

The Sagittarius Moon opposes Uranus, making a public responsibility, schedule, or household plan less predictable than usual.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
This is Kerry’s usual spiel at the beginning of a season; historically, the bravado lets up over time.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of usual

Adjective

Upon landing in Samarkand on Sunday night, Rubio was warmly embraced by Uzbekistan’s foreign minister, Bakhtiyor Saidov, while two women clad in elaborate gold-and-black traditional dresses presented him with a bouquet.

— Reuters, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2026
In all these areas, the traditional aid system is falling short.

— David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of traditional

Adjective

Compared to conventional microscopes, the Airscope offers a complete upgrade in neural imaging.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Grid current passes through silicon carbide transistors that switch at high frequency before sending it through a small conventional transformer, preserving the essential electrical isolation between the grid and everything downstream.

— Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of conventional

Adjective

The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.

— Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026

Definition of prevailing

Adjective

The district also later reported that about 2,000 student assessment records had been posted, including those of 60 current students.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
The calves struggled against a current thick with floating clumps of river plants.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of current

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customarily

customary

custom-built

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“Customary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/customary. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of customary

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