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

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

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

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 ordinary

Adjective

Still, Duet shares its usage limits with ordinary Claude chats. — Wen Shao, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 Think of hygge as making the ordinary extraordinary, a mindful focus on simple moments. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026

Noun

Chelsea have had their fair share of entertainers since making their debut in the tournament — the individuals who can just do something out of the ordinary to make everyone realise they are being treated to a game at the highest level. — Simon Johnson, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025 Alila Napa Valley goes beyond the ordinary by offering unforgettable experiences designed to captivate modern travelers, especially Xennials. — Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ordinary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordinary

Adjective

It's shot up from less than $97 at the start of the month on uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the global energy industry to return to normal.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Menopause is the normal part of a woman’s aging process that marks the end of her reproductive years.

— Lyndon Haviland, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of normal

Adjective

Tall Tales, the rooftop lounge, offers a few small bites, such as elote guacamole, along with a menu of cocktails, wine, beer, and a decent selection of nonalcoholic options.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
There should be a decent contingent of American cardinals and archbishops at the games.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of decent

Adjective

Murray says her own experience has made her more understanding when female colleagues seem more tired or irritable than usual, particularly when the behavior is out of character.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
Its warped vocal harmonies are ripe and sour, including guest appearances from the band’s friends, and off-kilter squiggles on steel guitar deviate from their usual pattern.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of usual

Noun

Marshall responded by characterizing the practice as commonplace among area hospitals.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
Wolff was only the eighth woman to drive a Formula 1 car (four more have done it since); the role, a now-commonplace one that includes driving the simulator during Grand Prix weekends to inform trackside strategy, was created for her.

— Danielle McNally, InStyle, 28 May 2026

Definition of commonplace

Adjective

But even just our average rainfall, that's typically when the lake recharges is during the winter and early spring.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
But, sea level rise is pushing them higher and higher, and experts say these higher-than-usual tides offer a taste of what an average day could look like in decades to comes, when seas are a few feet higher.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of average

Adjective

Lukic, whose lab continues to scale up its medium-voltage unit, assumed the killer application for SSTs would be EVs.

— Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat the coconut milk, ginger, and red onion over low heat for 15 minutes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of medium

Adjective

The conversation around weight loss medications such as GLP-1s can, at times, feel ubiquitous.

— Rachael Akhidenor, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
The former’s company, Omaha Productions, is part-owned by the NFL and Manning is a ubiquitous media presence on top of his Hall of Fame playing credentials.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of ubiquitous

Noun

Voters in six states will soon decide whether to impose or expand voter identification requirements, including rules requiring mail voters to provide part of a driver’s license or Social Security number.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 25 Oct. 2026
Some states, however, have chosen not to adopt the federal rule because of concerns about near-term revenue losses.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of rule

Browse Nearby Words

ordinariness

ordinary

ordination

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Style

“Ordinary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordinary. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ordinary

adjective

noun

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Synonyms of ordinary

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to ordinary

Is it 'ornery' cuss or 'ordinary' cuss?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on ordinary

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