what good

phrase

used to say that one does not think that something is helpful, useful, or worth doing
What good is a college education when you can't get a job after you graduate?
What good does it do to bring an umbrella along if you are only going to leave it in the car?
I could try talking to him, but what good would that do/be? He has already made up his mind.

Examples of what good in a Sentence

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While many educational institutions work to adapt, there are existing models that provide guidance as to what good looks like. Anna Demeo, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“What good.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/what%20good. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

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