1
2
as in available
capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose I've found this tool really useful for making sure all my pictures are hung straight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in helpful
providing service or assistance hopefully, the consultant's financial advice will prove useful in planning for our retirement

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 useful Fertilizing Flowers Because most plants go dormant in winter, fertilizing is not useful right now. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025 The winners will treat real estate as an operating business, not a commodity, generating returns by creating useful places that meet evolving generational needs and deliver lasting value. Amachie Ackah, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025 That balance of care, respect and self-management offers a useful model. Athena Aktipis, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025 That reality makes trade media not just useful, but vital. Cynthia Salarizadeh, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for useful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useful
Adjective
  • The Council said McCabe is authorized to continue carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Office of the Controller in accordance with all applicable laws, policies, and procedures to safeguard the nation’s financial integrity and ensure continuity of government operations.
    Arlyssa D. Becenti, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Dolan’s new contract also provides for an annual target bonus opportunity equal to at least three times her actual salary paid during the applicable year.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Tickets are available for a $20 donation.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Information on what time the stop was made wasn't available Thursday.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In response to a Star inquiry, the State Department confirmed Arrington’s role in obtaining the replica and described the former director as helpful and knowledgeable.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Turner is experienced, and a change could be helpful just for the sake of change.
    The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Koolaburra by Ugg Advay Slip-on Boots These suede boots strike that ideal balance between cozy and practical, complete with a fuzzy faux fur cuff that peeks out for just the right amount of flair.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Data are monitored daily by specialists, discussed with surgeons when needed and reviewed weekly with a nurse who provides practical recovery tips.
    Christophe Mouton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • These partnerships aim to turn ChatGPT into a multi-functional platform where users can shop, plan, book, and enjoy entertainment, all without leaving the chat.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Simple, beautiful, functional—this is a cocktail bar set that takes its job seriously if not without a little whimsy.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • One review found that saffron treatment was beneficial for sleep duration and quality.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2025
  • According to Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, eating with your hands is hygienic (after having washed your hands, of course) and beneficial to your senses and digestion.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Moving beyond the theory of the market, those skilled in applied finance understand how to make practical decisions in financial spaces.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
  • That’s why 2025’s Nobel Prize, about quantum advances that relate to macroscopic scales, from quantum tunneling to voltage-free current flows, truly represents a remarkable advance in applied physics.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Under local law, even inoperable or replica weapons are considered potentially operable if they can be modified to fire, placing them under the same strict legal framework.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
  • According to a report by the US Energy Information Administration, Russia has a total of 36 operable nuclear reactors with a capacity of 27 gigawatts.
    Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Useful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useful. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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