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Some common synonyms of custom<\/em> are habit<\/em><\/a>, practice<\/em><\/a>, usage<\/em><\/a>, and wont<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"a way of acting fixed through repetition,\" custom<\/em> applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.<\/p>

\/\/ the custom<\/em> of wearing black at funerals<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'habit' be used instead of 'custom'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words habit<\/em><\/a> and custom<\/em> have much in common, habit<\/em> implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.<\/p>

\/\/ had a habit<\/em> of tapping his fingers<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'practice' a more appropriate choice than 'custom'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words practice<\/em><\/a> and custom<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, practice<\/em> suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.<\/p>

\/\/ our practice<\/em> is to honor all major credit cards<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where would 'usage' be a reasonable alternative to 'custom'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms usage<\/em><\/a> and custom<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but usage<\/em> suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.<\/p>

\/\/ western-style dress is now common usage<\/em> in international business<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'wont' take the place of 'custom'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words wont<\/em><\/a> and custom<\/em> are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wont<\/em> usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.<\/p>

\/\/ as was her wont<\/em>, she slept until noon<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does the noun 'custom' differ from other similar words?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Some common synonyms of custom<\/em> are habit<\/em><\/a>, practice<\/em><\/a>, usage<\/em><\/a>, and wont<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"a way of acting fixed through repetition,\" custom<\/em> applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.<\/p>

\/\/ the custom<\/em> of wearing black at funerals<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'habit' be used instead of 'custom'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words habit<\/em><\/a> and custom<\/em> have much in common, habit<\/em> implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.<\/p>

\/\/ had a habit<\/em> of tapping his fingers<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'practice' a more appropriate choice than 'custom'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words practice<\/em><\/a> and custom<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, practice<\/em> suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.<\/p>

\/\/ our practice<\/em> is to honor all major credit cards<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where would 'usage' be a reasonable alternative to 'custom'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms usage<\/em><\/a> and custom<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but usage<\/em> suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.<\/p>

\/\/ western-style dress is now common usage<\/em> in international business<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'wont' take the place of 'custom'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words wont<\/em><\/a> and custom<\/em> are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wont<\/em> usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.<\/p>

\/\/ as was her wont<\/em>, she slept until noon<\/p>" } } ] }

custom 1 of 2

noun

ˈkÉ™-stÉ™m How to pronounce custom (audio)
Definition of customnext
1
as in ritual
a usual manner of behaving or doing it is my custom to have half a bagel and coffee for breakfast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in tradition
an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing the custom around here is that the bride's family pays for the wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in business
transactions or economic support provided by customers that restaurant certainly lost my custom after they were cited for health code violations

Synonyms & Similar Words

custom

2 of 2

adjective

as in customized
made or fitted to the needs or preferences of a specific customer that business tycoon wears only custom suits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun custom differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of custom are habit, practice, usage, and wont. While all these words mean "a way of acting fixed through repetition," custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.

the custom of wearing black at funerals

When can habit be used instead of custom?

Although the words habit and custom have much in common, habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

When is practice a more appropriate choice than custom?

In some situations, the words practice and custom are roughly equivalent. However, practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

Where would usage be a reasonable alternative to custom?

The synonyms usage and custom are sometimes interchangeable, but usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.

western-style dress is now common usage in international business

In what contexts can wont take the place of custom?

The words wont and custom are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

as was her wont, she slept until noon

How does the noun custom differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of custom are habit, practice, usage, and wont. While all these words mean "a way of acting fixed through repetition," custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.

the custom of wearing black at funerals

When can habit be used instead of custom?

Although the words habit and custom have much in common, habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

When is practice a more appropriate choice than custom?

In some situations, the words practice and custom are roughly equivalent. However, practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

Where would usage be a reasonable alternative to custom?

The synonyms usage and custom are sometimes interchangeable, but usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.

western-style dress is now common usage in international business

In what contexts can wont take the place of custom?

The words wont and custom are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

as was her wont, she slept until noon

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 custom
Noun
The brand has a lot to live up to every year, trying to impress with its newest batch of custom creations. —Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 26 Mar. 2026 This luggage expands to allow for greater packing space, and its custom design hides potential scratches and scuffs. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The company also provides patio doors and entry doors with similar custom-fit construction. —Community's Choice Awards, Florida Times-Union, 7 Mar. 2026 Ritchie also argued that Forgent's custom, engineer-to-order business model positions the company for significant margin expansion as volumes scale. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for custom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for custom
  1. ritual
  2. tradition
  3. business
  4. customized
  5. habit
  6. rule
  7. patronage
  8. tailored
Noun
  • Here, group dates often involve good-natured humiliation rituals that vaguely correspond to a romantic theme.
    — Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Before streaming playlists with 10,000 songs in your pocket, there was the sacred ritual of choosing one album to bring with you.
    — Ryan Brennan March 20, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of ritual
Noun
  • However, these systems and traditions were disrupted by the slave trade.
    — Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
  • But my favorite way to buck the charoset-tradition is actually to not make it at all.
    — Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of tradition
Noun
  • The route connects Montreal to New York City and is commonly used by both business and leisure travelers.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Analysts and businesses are concerned that the Iran war could drag on for months and have devastating economic consequences.
    — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of business
Adjective
  • The kind of traveler who loves customized itineraries is a trendsetter at heart, someone with an insatiable curiosity for the world and a penchant for authentic experiences.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Via GitHub, where Habib has made the code for World Monitor open-source and accessible to all, developers have made thousands of customized tweaks to the site and have translated it into more than 20 languages.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of customized
Noun
  • Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman told CBS News that the most effective way to reduce oil consumption is for people to change their driving habits — primarily by driving less — while acknowledging that engineering such a shift isn't easy.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Saline rinses at the first sign of congestion can prevent mouth breathing from hardening into habit.
    — Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of habit
Noun
  • Semenya, who was assigned female at birth in South Africa and has high natural testosterone levels, won a European Court of Human Rights judgment in her years-long legal challenge to track and field's rules which did not overturn them.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Sweeney Bell had a tepid response, however, to a recent controversy in which dozens of local Democrats were kicked off the ballot for breaking an Indiana Democratic Party rule.
    — Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of rule
Noun
  • Rollicking Japanese City Pop era tunes from the ‘80s and ‘90s keep energy levels up; on Sundays, off-duty geiko or maiko may be sitting at a cozy banquette nearby—they’re given a discount to encourage a local patronage, too.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2026
  • While Talarico may posture as not being influenced by corporate interests, despite taking their money, critics have pointed to his relationship with the gambling industry as an example of him acting on behalf of an industry that provides him with patronage.
    — Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of patronage
Adjective
  • This four-seat (technically) convertible wraps its occupants in tailored luxury and backs up its sleek appearance with muscular performance.
    — Jason Fogelson, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The prize consists of tailored curatorial, technical, and business consultancy with studio access at the Onassis Ready facilities in Athens.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of tailored

Browse Nearby Words

custody
custom
customarily
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Custom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custom. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on custom

Nglish: Translation of custom for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about custom

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