traditional

adjective

trə-ˈdish-nəl How to pronounce traditional (audio)
Definition of traditionalnext
1
as in customary
based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation a traditional Passover meal at his grandparents' house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conservative
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions a family that is very traditional when it comes to institutions like marriage

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 traditional Its signature Song Bag translates the skeletal geometry of traditional Chinese kites into a soft, structured leather vessel. — Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026 The Inn operates like a traditional B&B, with free breakfast in the morning, and complimentary wine and cheese in the evening. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for traditional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traditional
  1. customary
  2. conservative
  3. conventional
  4. orthodox
  5. classical
  6. usual
  7. historical
Adjective
  • Flanagan’s customary whip pans are here to surprise us with characters lurking outside the frame, but this isn’t a story with many external supernatural threats, and tension doesn’t build.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The customary counter and high chairs that once held pecan waffles and smothered hash browns have been replaced with a long bodega-style service counter.
    — Sheeka Sanahori, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of customary
Adjective
  • The agency cited a local news story, whose source for its reporting was an X post from conservative activist and social media influencer Scott Presler.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The task fell to Atomic Canyon, whose CEO Trey Lauderdale previously worked to integrate AI into health care, another conservative industry.
    — Andrew Moseman, IEEE Spectrum, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of conservative
Adjective
  • Aside from its visual distinctiveness, red diesel shares an identical chemical composition with conventional highway diesel.
    — , CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The capability needed to run AI at studio level will not be found solely within the conventional media and entertainment system.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of conventional
Adjective
  • Garcia’s comes from standing up straight in his orthodox stance but is driven by his back leg, which propels him forward.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • King’s indifference to orthodox formats enables formal mischief.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of orthodox
Adjective
  • The military exemption in South Korea also applies to classical and traditional musicians, dancers and other artists who are viewed as enhancing national pride.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Gavin Francis From its origins in the classical physique and homoerotic spectacle, bodybuilding today often involves the use of steroids whose dangers are not properly understood.
    — Conor Heffernan, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of classical
Adjective
  • The products were Park Hyatt’s usual—delicious-smelling La Labo toiletries.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • There’s deals on makeup, too, like the Ilia Limitless Mascara at 20% off for just $23 compared to its usual $30.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of usual
Adjective
  • Annals are historical records arranged by year; the clue leverages the entry’s singular form to misdirect us.
    — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Although robust buyer demand briefly drove yields down to session lows following the auction, yield levels above 5% remain substantially higher than the historical norm over the past decade.
    — , CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of historical

Browse Nearby Words

tradition
traditional
traditionalism
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Cite this Entry

“Traditional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traditional. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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