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

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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

For ordinary Russians, the breakdown is reflected in the declining economic mood. — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 30 June 2026 Capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income, benefiting shareholders and other investors. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 30 June 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 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 See All Example Sentences for ordinary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordinary

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

Noun

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
The videos are often integrated into larger montages of drone strikes, underscoring how commonplace these drones have become for Russian forces.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026

Definition of commonplace

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

McDonald's is giving away a free order of medium fries for National Fry Day on July 10 with a $1 minimum purchase in the app, according to a press release shared with PEOPLE.

— Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Prepare a grill for medium-high indirect heat (for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off; for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side); lightly oil grate with vegetable oil.

— Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026

Definition of medium

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

Noun

In the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, which borders Crimea, another video shows a man filling up a container in the back of his car while two women berate him for breaking the rules.

— Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
The Marlins tacked on two runs in the second on Lopez’s ground-rule double and Hicks’ sacrifice fly.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of rule

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ordinariness

ordinary

ordination

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“Ordinary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordinary. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of ordinary

adjective

noun

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Synonyms of ordinary

adjective

noun

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Example Sentences

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Articles Related to ordinary

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

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on ordinary

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

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The Longest Long Words List

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Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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Games & Quizzes