ROTE Synonyms: 148 Similar and Opposite Words

rote 1 of 2

noun

ˈrōt

Definition of rote

as in routine

an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity learned the rote for the exercise warm-up but not the reasoning behind it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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rote

2 of 2

adjective

as in usual

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Dissimilar Words

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 rote

Noun

Nothing is done by rote in such a sophisticated operation, after all, and the results reflect at least some elements of emphasis. — Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026 Both governments still mouth the old slogans, by rote. — Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026

Adjective

The question definitively answered here is whether more schools should be emphasizing project learning over rote memorization and teaching to the test. — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 That geographic blandness only emphasizes the film’s other shortcomings, such as Schoenaerts’s anonymous work as the villain (a lot of glowering and creepy glares) and the rather rote big-sister/little-sister arc given to Supergirl and Ruthye. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rote

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rote

Noun

As the school year started and drivers tiptoed into new routines or back into old ones a couple of theoretical bear traps snapped down this past Tuesday in Cobb County.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Choose from energizing citrus, cooling eucalyptus and peppermint, calming lavender or a variety pack with five different scents – an easy way to add a little luxury to your daily routine.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of routine

Adjective

Moore’s frayed, full-volume, Barbie-pink ball gown with a distressed bow was a break from her usual structured looks.

— Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Warming the roof of the mouth—for example, by pressing the tongue against the palate or drinking a room-temperature beverage—can hasten recovery from brain freeze by allowing blood vessels and sensory nerves to return to their usual state.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of usual

Noun

Robert Mynatt, the roastmaster at Volcanica Coffee, says that espresso requires an extremely fine grind, one that many home grinders (primarily blade grinders) are unable to evenly and consistently produce.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2026
Goldman Sachs ' dealmaking prowess may grab all the glory, but the biggest driver of growth last quarter came from the daily-grind of equities trading.

— Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of grind

Adjective

Unlike typical private foundations, a POF actively conducts charitable work, such as exhibiting and conserving objects for public access.

— Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
The product, a combo package called 3D Editor + Canvas, essentially combines typical AI generation (which tends to happen in 2D) with the more advanced CG world (which tends to happen in 3D).

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of typical

Adjective

Meals are taken family style, and the refinement of the cooking will ruin ordinary Indian restaurant fare for you.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Aug. 2026
For Neha Bora, a student leader who took part in a hunger strike in New Delhi, the movement showed that ordinary citizens could still hold those in power to account.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of ordinary

Adjective

Some critics described him as unimaginative but capable, and he was criticized for extending the defense of Bakhmut at great human cost.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
But is that because these shirts evoke nostalgia and appreciation for the designs, or because the newer alternatives are unimaginative and too expensive?

— Elias Burke, New York Times, 13 July 2026

Definition of unimaginative

Adjective

The new vaccine was found to be about 27% more effective during the 2024–25 respiratory virus season than standard flu shots in Moderna’s study, which enrolled over 40,000 adults 50 and older.

— Elise Haulund, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
In a late-stage trial, mFlusiva was found to be about 27% more effective than a standard flu shot.

— Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of standard

Adjective

This figure has already exceeded the European Commission's estimate for annual wildfire losses across the entire European Union in a normal year.

— , CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
Since military prototypes often undergo multiple design revisions, such modifications are considered a normal part of the aircraft development process.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of normal

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“Rote.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rote. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of rote

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

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