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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 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

So it is likely that weather patterns will stay stuck in a rut with nothing changing substantially until mid-February.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

The U.S. housing market has been stuck in a rut over the past few years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 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

A dozen times a day they had to stop to free a wheel that had stuck in a rut, or double up the teams to climb a muddy slope.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin