Definition of commonnext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective common contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of common are familiar, ordinary, plain, popular, and vulgar. While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," 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 would familiar be a good substitute for common?

The words familiar and common are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

In what contexts can ordinary take the place of common?

The meanings of ordinary and common largely overlap; however, 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 is plain a more appropriate choice than common?

While in some cases nearly identical to common, plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

When might popular be a better fit than common?

Although the words popular and common have much in common, 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 common?

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 common Five bedrooms sleep up to 16 guests, with common spaces sized so people can gather—or separate—easily. Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2026 Gendreau says other common signs of deficiency include muscle weakness, low motivation, and low energy. Allison Forsyth, Health, 26 June 2026 Almost nothing was known about hereditary cancers at the time, and most experts expressed skepticism that these seemingly unrelated cancers might have anything in common. Lawrence Ingrassia, STAT, 26 June 2026 The Poweshiek skipperling, a small prairie butterfly once common throughout Minnesota's tall grass, nearly disappeared over the past few decades. Ray Campos, CBS News, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for common
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common
Adjective
  • The Human Edge In An AI-First Era As AI becomes ubiquitous, the last real differentiator is human.
    Martin Simoncic, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Even a brand name as ubiquitous as Walmart is always looking to strengthen its customer base.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • Shah adds that many women feel their best when ferritin levels are at least between 40 and 70 ng/ml for optimal energy and hair health, even if lab ranges suggest lower levels are ‘normal’.
    Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 30 June 2026
  • People are being asked to have their trash and recycling at the curb at least one hour prior to their normal pickup time.
    Mike Darnay, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Little’s lack of response to a possible return that offseason resulted in general manager Ned Colletti pursuing other options.
    Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • While unions secured general salary increases last year to offset the salary reductions associated with the leave program, the agreements did not include similar increases in July 2026.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Those groups also have lower access to drugs that can stop the transmission of HIV.
    Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • Last winter was the second-warmest on record, according to the city’s ordinance, with record low snowpack almost everywhere.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.
    Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The official OnsOranje social media accounts posted quite a few photos of the streets filled with Dutch fans and Netherlands flags as supports do their collective march to the stadium.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • In lieu of Pearl Jam, Wilco and other ‘90s rock standards, a pounding electronic score by Christian Lundberg of Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers collective provides the music.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • Lander also backs an ultra-wealth tax on individuals worth over $1 billion, as well as the Equal Tax Act, which matches tax rates for capital gains and ordinary income over $1 million.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 June 2026
  • In 2022 long-term acute care hospitals accounted for 56 percent of screening detections and ordinary acute care hospitals for 25; by 2024 the proportions had inverted, to 36 and 51.
    John Drake, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Because of that, these hands suffer from high production costs, poor durability against impacts, short operational lifespans, and there are no existing solutions that engineers can readily draw upon, Wang added.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • The extreme heat can also affect people who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Common.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/common. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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