1
as in aides
a person who helps a more skilled person
Jack is his mother's preferred aid in the kitchen, as his sister Janice is clumsy when it comes to chopping and peeling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in benefits
a thing that helps
a dictionary is a handy aid for working crossword puzzles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in assists
an act or instance of helping
the clerk asked if she needed any aid carrying out her purchases
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in helps
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end
sought to aid her in her search for a dachshund puppy by looking online
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 aids
Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 22 Jan. 2026
Mostly bare bones, with minimal clutter and rider aids – how dirt bikes should be.
—New Atlas, 20 Jan. 2026
Fermentation helps preserve food and aids in digestion.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Started in 2000, Ralph Lauren's Pink Pony Campaign aids in cancer care and access to early treatment.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
Unlike traditional sleep aids that rely on masking noise or sedative effects, Spatial Sleep is designed to work with the user’s neurobiology.
—Soundhealth, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2026
The most popular argument against autistic Barbie is that branding one specific doll with one specific set of traits and accessibility aids as the autistic one will have too much influence on how people perceive autism.
—Sarah Kurchak, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
Property taxes have risen partly because the state budget did not add new funding for general school aids.
—Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Bialystok was not involved in the project but has researched second-language acquisition in children and adults, including whether being bilingual delays the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or aids in multitasking and problem-solving.
—Stephen Wade, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 19 Jan. 2026
An appropriate portfolio aids you in capitalizing on gains and mitigating losses from individual stock declines.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Soft-close cabinetry is another staple of 2026 kitchen design, according to the report, a trait that not only aids durability but also prevents jarring noises.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Leaving branches in place until the tree is established yields better foliage growth that aids root establishment in the first year after transplanting.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
Dandelion root tea has inulin, a prebiotic fiber that aids digestion by nourishing beneficial gut bacteria.
—Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 29 Dec. 2025
Over-regulation stifles American growth and aids China in this crucial race for global strength.
—Samuel Field, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
While the idea that fat aids the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients is well established, the Missouri study provides additional detail specific to kale.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Monitoring patients’ progress also aids the organization in tracking whether treatments are effective and potentially stepping in to discuss altering treatment plans with their providers if needed.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
Noun
Store an emergency kit in your car with items like a scraper, blanket, flashlight, water, snacks, jumper cables and traction aids.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 22 Jan. 2026
Mostly bare bones, with minimal clutter and rider aids – how dirt bikes should be.
—New Atlas, 20 Jan. 2026
Fermentation helps preserve food and aids in digestion.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Started in 2000, Ralph Lauren's Pink Pony Campaign aids in cancer care and access to early treatment.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
Unlike traditional sleep aids that rely on masking noise or sedative effects, Spatial Sleep is designed to work with the user’s neurobiology.
—Soundhealth, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2026
The most popular argument against autistic Barbie is that branding one specific doll with one specific set of traits and accessibility aids as the autistic one will have too much influence on how people perceive autism.
—Sarah Kurchak, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
Property taxes have risen partly because the state budget did not add new funding for general school aids.
—Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Bialystok was not involved in the project but has researched second-language acquisition in children and adults, including whether being bilingual delays the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or aids in multitasking and problem-solving.
—Stephen Wade, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
The calcium found in milk is also packaged with vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of calcium.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 19 Jan. 2026
An appropriate portfolio aids you in capitalizing on gains and mitigating losses from individual stock declines.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Soft-close cabinetry is another staple of 2026 kitchen design, according to the report, a trait that not only aids durability but also prevents jarring noises.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Leaving branches in place until the tree is established yields better foliage growth that aids root establishment in the first year after transplanting.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
Dandelion root tea has inulin, a prebiotic fiber that aids digestion by nourishing beneficial gut bacteria.
—Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 29 Dec. 2025
Over-regulation stifles American growth and aids China in this crucial race for global strength.
—Samuel Field, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
While the idea that fat aids the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients is well established, the Missouri study provides additional detail specific to kale.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Monitoring patients’ progress also aids the organization in tracking whether treatments are effective and potentially stepping in to discuss altering treatment plans with their providers if needed.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aids
Noun
-
Both aides have been moved to investigative leave.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Putin and his aides have repeatedly threatened to take the territory by force if Kyiv doesn’t give it up.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Aside from potentially pressing pause on the exhausting narratives about Antekokounmpo's future, his injury could have on-court benefits for the Bucks as well.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Recycling does a lot more than keep waste out of crowded landfills; there also are environmental, economic, and community benefits.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Junior guard Ty-Laur Johnson went 12-for-18 from the floor and finished with a career-high 28 points plus seven assists and three steals.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Guard Charlie Adams had 22 points, five rebounds and four assists to lead the way for Cleveland (13-8 overall, 4-0 league), with 12 of his points coming in the third quarter.—
Jack Gillespie,
Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The fur lining helps block out the snow and the overall structure has a lightweight feel.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The show helps young viewers learn social skills like sharing, apologizing, and managing big feelings.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Rebels found themselves in coach limbo throughout the playoffs, as many assistants are following Kiffin to Baton Rouge.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
With Pete Golding calling the shots after being promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach, and most of the assistants sticking around, the Rebels blew out Tulane to open the playoff and took down mighty Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That flexibility is one of the biggest advantages travelers have today.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Those advantages will show up Sunday.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The partnerships will work with Adobe’s in-house engineers and nearly three-year-old Firefly AI model to build bespoke AI tools to create video from organizations’ in-house assets for everything from feature-length film shoots to short-form marketing and social-media posts.—
David Bloom,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
American radar installations and military assets there are essential for early warning against Russian and Chinese missile threats.—
Paul McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On Wednesday, Mayor Barbara Lee and police leaders credited the city’s violence intervention program, as well as surveillance technology and help from the California Highway Patrol, with driving much of the decline.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Two of the patients sustained minor injuries, one of whom declined medical help.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aids.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aids. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
