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.

“Canada’s resale housing market is stuck in a rut, and it doesn’t look likely to break out of it anytime soon,” said Michael Davenport, economist at Oxford Economics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

The chip maker’s stock has been in a rut in recent months as investors worry about the sustainability of AI spending by hyperscalers.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 2, 2026

These variations in rainfall can largely be explained by a so-called blocked weather pattern which left our weather stuck in a rut for most of January and February.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 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

Usually people got in a rut putting honey bears on them.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

in a rut

Example Sentences

Related Words