1
as in to utilize
to put into action or service
I will need to use the large hammer for this project
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to treat
to behave toward in a stated way
the factory workers were underpaid and poorly used by their employers
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to exploit
to take unfair advantage of
I was paying for everything on our little outing, and I was starting to feel like I was being used
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in application
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose
the use of boom boxes is strictly prohibited in the park
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in usefulness
the capacity for being useful for some purpose
the broken grill isn't going to be of much use in cooking the hamburgers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in liking
positive regard for something
I have no use for slackers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 use
Usa Today,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
For McDonnell, using sharks to improve how fish are managed to keep them healthy as climate change makes their behavior less predictable has a poetic flair.
—
Jenny Staletovich,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
The high-energy track is aggressive yet playful and makes expert use of an electric guitar sample, an instrument not heard frequently in the Memphis producer’s collection.
—
Demicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for use
Verb
This horoscope was generated automatically using information from Sanctuary.
—
Usa Today,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
For McDonnell, using sharks to improve how fish are managed to keep them healthy as climate change makes their behavior less predictable has a poetic flair.
—
Jenny Staletovich,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Noun
How To Clean Porous Tile Backsplashes Clean natural stone tiles with a pH-neutral cleaner specially designed for use on stone.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
The high-energy track is aggressive yet playful and makes expert use of an electric guitar sample, an instrument not heard frequently in the Memphis producer’s collection.
—
Demicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for use
Recent Examples of Synonyms for use
Verb
-
This new lottery system will be utilized for a three-year experimental span and will expire after the 2029 draft, with the board of governors then allowed to vote to continue the system or transition to a new one.
-
That physical play is something the Patriots can utilize, as well as Brown’s route-running prowess that has led to four straight seasons of at least 1,000 yards receiving.
Verb
-
Interest in kratom surged in the last couple of years as users have reported consuming the compound in the form of a pill, powder or tea to treat various ailments.
-
Families with young children could ride all the rides, see the shows and meet multiple characters in a day, if lines aren’t too long, but the park isn’t meant to be treated like a checklist.
Verb
-
So far, there are no reports of the usbliter8 bug being exploited in the wild.
-
However, Nawrocki is a nationalist politician who has exploited anti-Ukrainian sentiment for electoral gain.
Noun
-
In Kansas, for example, recipients must fill out a 30-page application with 200 questions to get benefits of about $150 per month, according to Appleseed Center's Kottler.
-
An Art Basel spokesperson told the Art Newspaper that the decision to cancel the award had been made in 2025, with the selection committed subsequently notified and application materials updated.
Noun
-
As consumers rarely reward clever technology for its own sake - the experts and talks through the week will show how to reward usefulness, confidence and ease.
-
The board did not separately vote on that request, but Interim Chief Business Officer Lisa Grant-Dawson acknowledged the usefulness of such an update before the district’s first interim report in December.
Noun
-
If the butter yellow isn’t to your liking, there are 14 other colors to peruse, including baby blue, cherry red, and bubble gum pink.
-
And that was much to his liking.
Verb
-
Those rules govern which AI models Promise may use and what protections apply — effectively letting each client decide how heavily AI figures into the work.
-
Lower Manhattan became frozen beyond expectation, with subways stopping south of Canal Street, a border that had earlier applied only to cars.
Verb
-
Bosch, the German engineering firm, says its British subsidiary now handles 10,000 import transactions per year, a stunning increase from just 40 annually prior to Brexit.
-
According to the developers, the AI agent will create itineraries, handle arrangements, and try to anticipate what guests need.
Cite this Entry
“Use.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/use. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
