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

The handling of the Epstein files by Republicans reinforces the observation of ordinary Americans that wealthy and well-connected one-percenters have been and continue to be treated differently from ordinary citizens. — Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2026 The next area of development may not come from replacing employees or deploying another standalone AI application, but from making sure the information exchanged in ordinary conversations doesn't disappear the moment a call ends. — Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 18 Aug. 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

The sensor returned to normal after Menon doffed the suit, but NASA took some extra time to make sure there was no serious issue.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Restrictive eating and other disordered eating behaviors can start to feel very normal when your whole algorithm is feeding you back-to-back tips on how to shrink yourself.

— Miranda Roberts, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of normal

Adjective

For Panama, the result is a wet season that’s already been drier than usual and is likely to get worse.

— Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
New York City sanitation workers say their job has been pricklier than usual after the Department of Sanitation reported an increase in needle stick injuries.

— Noelle Lilley, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of usual

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

His overall offensive touch and instincts are average, but there’s enough to his game to be a potential third-line forward, maybe even as a center.

— Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
The speed at which participants first focused on an image, and the average length of time participants spent looking at each image, were both recorded and turned into a score.

— Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of average

Adjective

Washes were medium to dark with an emphasize on natural wash patterns.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
Dunkin's fall menu includes several bakery items and the return of the $6 Meal Deal, which comes with a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich, hash browns and a medium hot or iced coffee.

— Mike Snider, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of medium

Adjective

If cave paintings tell the stories of the earliest human life, factices — the once-ubiquitous oversized perfume bottle replicas — play a similar role in revealing the histories of fragrance.

— Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
Although air conditioning is not ubiquitous across the continent - at least not yet - its use is increasing.

— Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of ubiquitous

Noun

Critics dismissed the polls, held in phases in December and January, as a sham designed to consolidate the military’s grip on power while ostensibly restoring civilian rule.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
For the first time, after decades of brutal Assad rule – by both Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez al-Assad before him - the model of impunity in Syria has been broken, even if the penalty is unlikely to ever be carried out.

— Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 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 22 Aug. 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?

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