habitual
adjective
ha·bit·u·al
hə-ˈbi-ch(ə-)wəl 
ha-,
-ˈbi-chəl
1
2
: regularly or repeatedly doing, practicing, or acting in some manner : doing something by force of habit
habitual drunkards
a habitual liar
3
: resorted to on a regular basis
our habitual diet
4
: inherent in an individual
habitual grace
habitually
adverb
habitualness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of habitual in a Sentence
He was fired for his habitual lateness.
They went for their habitual evening walk.
Recent Examples on the Web
That increase would have to be intentional, Brittain said, but could likely be achieved through habitual changes such as taking a walk during phone calls or parking further away from store entrances.
—
Brian Mastroianni, Health, 9 Apr. 2024
Kids going through puberty online are likely to experience far more social comparison, self-consciousness, public shaming, and chronic anxiety than adolescents in previous generations, which could potentially set developing brains into a habitual state of defensiveness.
—Jonathan Haidt, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2024
The industry is a habitual early adopter of new technology, from VHS to DVD to dot com.
—Tatum Hunter, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2024
Consequently, the more routine and habitual a behavior becomes, the stronger and more responsive its connection to the individual.
—Sam Adeyemi, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
As the nation’s leader whose every utterance is monitored around the world, Mr. Trump would also be in an extraordinary position to drive traffic — and ultimately revenue — by the habitual use of the site.
—Sharon Lafraniere, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
These health concerns may include leg cramps or habitual foot tapping.1
People may confuse RLS with nocturnal leg cramps, which cause painful muscle movements.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 15 Mar. 2024
In the recent trial, the prosecution characterized Whitehead as a habitual liar, emphasizing his deceit regarding access, influence, and relationships.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 15 Mar. 2024
Under the reforms the legislature shortened the amount of time that a nonviolent conviction could trigger the three-strikes law for habitual offenders.
—Tim Craig, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2024
Brian Mastroianni, Health, 9 Apr. 2024
Kids going through puberty online are likely to experience far more social comparison, self-consciousness, public shaming, and chronic anxiety than adolescents in previous generations, which could potentially set developing brains into a habitual state of defensiveness.
—Jonathan Haidt, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2024
The industry is a habitual early adopter of new technology, from VHS to DVD to dot com.
—Tatum Hunter, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2024
Consequently, the more routine and habitual a behavior becomes, the stronger and more responsive its connection to the individual.
—Sam Adeyemi, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
As the nation’s leader whose every utterance is monitored around the world, Mr. Trump would also be in an extraordinary position to drive traffic — and ultimately revenue — by the habitual use of the site.
—Sharon Lafraniere, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
These health concerns may include leg cramps or habitual foot tapping.1
People may confuse RLS with nocturnal leg cramps, which cause painful muscle movements.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 15 Mar. 2024
In the recent trial, the prosecution characterized Whitehead as a habitual liar, emphasizing his deceit regarding access, influence, and relationships.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 15 Mar. 2024
Under the reforms the legislature shortened the amount of time that a nonviolent conviction could trigger the three-strikes law for habitual offenders.
—Tim Craig, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'habitual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near habitual
Cite this Entry
“Habitual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/habitual. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
habitual
adjective
ha·bit·u·al
hə-ˈbich-(ə-)wəl
ha-
1
: being or done by habit
habitual tardiness
2
: doing or acting out of habit
habitual talkers
3
: done, followed, or used often or regularly
took our habitual path
habitually
adverb
-ē
habitualness
noun
Medical Definition
habitual
adjective
ha·bit·u·al
hə-ˈbich-(ə-)wəl, ha-, -ˈbich-əl
1
: having the nature of a habit : being in accordance with habit
habitual smoking
2
: doing, practicing, or acting in some manner by force of habit
habitual liars
Legal Definition
habitual
adjective
ha·bit·u·al
hə-ˈbi-chə-wəl
1
: practicing or acting in some manner by force of custom, habit, or addiction
a habitual drunkard
2
: being such a specified number of times or with designated regularity
habitual offenders
3
: involved in the practice of a person's usual behavior
her habitual residence
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