garden-variety

adjective

ˈgär-dᵊn-və-ˈrī-ə-tē How to pronounce garden-variety (audio)
Definition of garden-varietynext
1
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events the once-powerful hurricane eventually abated into just a garden-variety tropical storm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in usual
often observed or encountered the bakery's extravagant creations are not your garden-variety wedding cakes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 garden-variety But peppered in between the back-and-forth comments with garden-variety Internet trolls are criticisms of his onetime colleagues. — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 Some point to the usual suspects — the Illuminati, Bohemian Grove, garden-variety Satanists. — Lane Brown, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025 In a career spanning six decades, Weir was key to developing the Grateful Dead from garden-variety psychedelic rockers as the Warlocks to godfathers of the jam band genre. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 15 Jan. 2026 All of which might be dismissed as garden-variety conspiracy, not to mention being beyond the organizational capacity of the Democratic Party. — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for garden-variety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for garden-variety
  1. normal
  2. usual
  3. ordinary
  4. ubiquitous
  5. typical
  6. common
  7. average
  8. familiar
Adjective
  • For many women, painful periods are treated as an unfortunate but normal part of life.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Typically, El Niño is associated with wetter-than-normal conditions during the winter in Southern California.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • This could include sniffing around more than usual or barking and growling at odd places like piles of leaves.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 3 July 2026
  • Finally, a birthday that really deserves all the usual fireworks.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of usual
Adjective
  • This impressive dinner will make an ordinary Wednesday night feel like a special occasion.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 8 July 2026
  • Asked why, Newsom told The Times his party had become out of touch with ordinary Americans.
    — Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • When World Cup season descends upon soccer-mad Brazil, green and yellow banners decorate restaurants, bars and apartment buildings, streets are painted with flags and soccer balls, and discussions of the beloved national team's games are ubiquitous.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • Already this year, the elusive-yet-ubiquitous producer is credited on Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE’s POMPEII // UTILITY, a song with Compton’s $amaad, and an ambient instrumental tape.
    — Oba Awolowo, Pitchfork, 3 July 2026
Definition of ubiquitous
Adjective
  • If multiple people become infected within a neighborhood, a typical source would be a cooling tower, hot tub or spray fountain, NYC Health wrote on its website.
    — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • The contoured footbed offers more support than a typical flat sandal, and the adjustable straps help customize the fit, which is especially helpful for her flat feet.
    — Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
Definition of typical
Adjective
  • Room-service delivery robots are already common in hotels across many large Chinese cities.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • The most common cat colors are orange, black, cream or gray, but cats can come in unique hues, such as chocolate or lilac.
    — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of common
Adjective
  • That adds up to just $15,080 a year, based on a standard 40-hour workweek—less than a third of the average American’s salary of around $60,000 yearly.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 July 2026
  • The battery life errs more on the average side and lacks magnetic charging, but the $200 Fourth of July discount makes up for it.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 6 July 2026
Definition of average
Adjective
  • While no one wants a bad night's sleep, most of us experience occasional sleep disruptions stemming from familiar culprits like late-night doomscrolling, too much caffeine, stress or an inconsistent bedtime routine.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Tensions over race and history are familiar for Lynne Jackson, who now runs a foundation in Missouri to honor Dred Scott and his effort to vindicate his rights.
    — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 7 July 2026
Definition of familiar

Browse Nearby Words

gardens
garden-variety
garderobe
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Cite this Entry

“Garden-variety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/garden-variety. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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