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Definitions

in a rut

ADJECTIVE
conservative
Synonyms
STRONGEST
traditional
STRONG
cautious constant conventional firm moderate old-fashioned stable steady timid unadventurous
WEAK
bourgeois controlled fearful fogyish fuddy-duddy guarded hidebound holding to illiberal inflexible not extreme orthodox sober traditionalistic unchangeable unchanging uncreative undaring unimaginative unprogressive
Antonyms
STRONGEST
incautious
STRONG
changeable inconstant unfixed unstable unsteady untrustworthy wavering
WEAK
exaggerated
ADJECTIVE
conventional
Synonyms
STRONGEST
rigid
WEAK
bigoted bourgeois button-down commonplace conforming conservative demure doctrinal dogmatic drippy hackneyed hidebound humdrum illiberal in rut inflexible insular isolationist lame literal moderate moral narrow narrow-minded not extreme not heretical obstinate parochial pedestrian prosaic puritanical routine rube run-of-the-mill sober solemn square stereotyped straight strait-laced strict stuffy uptight
Antonyms
WEAK
abnormal different exotic foreign irregular new original strange uncommon unconventional uncustomary unique unusual
ADJECTIVE
customary
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accepted traditional
WEAK
according to Hoyle accustomed acknowledged by the numbers chronic common confirmed conventional established everyday familiar fashionable frequent general habitual household in the groove normal ordinary orthodox playing it safe popular prescriptive recognized regular regulation routine same old sop standard standard operating procedure stipulated understood universal wonted
Antonyms
WEAK
abnormal different irregular occasional rare sometime unusual
ADJECTIVE
settled
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ended established resolved
STRONG
determined
ADJECTIVE
traditionalist
Synonyms
STRONG
Tory bourgeois constant firm fuddy-duddy quiet reactionary right rightist stable steady timid
WEAK
controlled conventional die-hard fearful fogyish guarded hard hat hidebound holding to illiberal inflexible middle-of-the-road obstinate old guard old-line orthodox right of center right-wing sober traditional traditionalistic unchangeable unchanging uncreative undaring unimaginative unprogressive
Antonyms
STRONG
changeable inconstant unfixed unstable unsteady
ADJECTIVE
traditionalistic
Synonyms
WEAK
bourgeois constant controlled conventional die-hard fearful firm fogyish fuddy-duddy guarded hard hat hidebound holding to illiberal inflexible middle-of-the-road obstinate old guard old-line orthodox quiet reactionary right of center right-wing rightist sober stable steady traditional traditionalist unchangeable unchanging uncreative undaring unimaginative unprogressive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The housing market was stuck in a rut during the previous three years, and this year looks no better.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

ServiceNow’s stock has been in a rut — so much so that it’s on track to post its largest quarterly decline on record.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies remained stuck in a rut Thursday but crypto-exposed stocks were set for gains.

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

I’d been in a rut with dating, feeling as stagnant as the 405 Freeway on a Friday afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2024

The cars were in a big cluster, parked at odd angles, some with their tires in a rut, some without tires at all.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez