Thesaurus results for RUTS

ruts

noun

plural of rut

as in routines

an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity I've fallen into a rut, watching television and then going to bed every night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 ruts Neptune retrograde in Aries commences on this day, urging us to break out of our emotional and professional ruts and to reignite our dreams. — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026 Wet soil is also prone to compaction from the weight of the mower, which may leave ruts in the yard. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 June 2026 Before the roads west of town were paved in 1936, reaching the lake meant navigating ruts, mud bogs and chugholes. — Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 Wheel ruts and aboveground turf damage can become a problem, too, when the lawn mower is turning in the same place repeatedly. — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026 Finch put his finger on the trouble during one of the regular-season ruts, identifying a moodiness that gets in the way of the type of surgical execution of game plans that the defending champion Oklahoma City and now San Antonio can consistently lean on. — CBS News, 16 May 2026 Those include sites like Bonneville Point – where emigrants got their first glimpse of the Boise River Valley and trail ruts can be seen – and Three Island Crossing State Park, named for the most crucial and challenging river crossing in the state. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 Additionally, tilling wet soil can do more harm than good by creating dense soil layers and deep ruts. — Nora Doonan, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026 Regular theme-parkgoers may find themselves in ruts, making favorites their top priority while avoiding others out of habit. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruts

Noun

But the upward trajectory will surely end soon, and as teams become more familiar with the various routines, the specialist coaches must start to earn their money in the defensive penalty area.

— George Edwards, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Organizations often spend substantial energy articulating ambitious outcomes while devoting less attention to the routines that make those outcomes possible.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of routines

Noun

The costumes and props were as big as the beats and grooves as the band powered through what was no doubt the most over-the-top theatrical event of the 2026 Outside Lands.

— Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
Work in one area at a time, using a toothbrush to get into hard-to-reach grooves.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of grooves

Noun

Tableside dishes are a highlight, including a seasonal classic Greek salad and mouthwatering whole branzino baked in a coffee-grinds and sea-salt crust, then expertly deboned and served to perfection.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
In a measuring cup or small bowl, stir together the yogurt, mayonnaise, chives, dill and garlic powder; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper.

— Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026