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as in to benefit
to provide with something useful or desirable being independently wealthy certainly helped him during his years as a struggling young artist

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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help

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word help distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of help are ameliorate, better, and improve. While all these words mean "to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard," help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.

a coat of paint would help that house

In what contexts can ameliorate take the place of help?

Although the words ameliorate and help have much in common, ameliorate implies making more tolerable or acceptable conditions that are hard to endure.

tried to ameliorate the lives of people in the tenements

How do improve and better relate to one another, in the sense of help?

Both improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad.

measures to further improve the quality of medical care
immigrants hoping to better their lot

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 help
Verb
And your tarot horoscopes are here to help. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025 Nonetheless, Wesley didn’t help himself with his offensive exploits (or lack thereof) in his periodic opportunities. John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
Sheriff’s officials are asking for the public’s help in gathering evidence, including photos, videos or eyewitness accounts. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025 The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for help
Recent Examples of Synonyms for help
Verb
  • The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is assisting the City of Southport Police Department, along with multiple law enforcement agencies, in investigating the shooting.
    Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Detectives, assisted by Worlds of Fun security, later determined that the noise was actually fireworks.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • According to Stacy, the company’s reputation and extensive experience have given them the ability to alleviate any stress or hassles for the homeowner.
    Archway Homes, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
  • My first infusion was 50 milligrams for 90 minutes, and over time increased to 95 milligrams over 75 minutes, with the addition of magnesium to alleviate anxiety.
    Soph Warnes, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Being less direct and formal can help prevent your kid putting a wall up — as can chatting during car rides since not being face-to-face can feel less intimidating for them.
    Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The rise in organized thefts has become a major talking point for advocates who are asking the state to step in to do more to prevent the violent encounters.
    Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • One advantage wounded Israeli soldiers have benefited from is the proximity to the battlefield — evacuated from Gaza by helicopter within about an hour to the operating table of a top-notch hospital in Israel.
    Daniel Estrin, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
  • However, plants can develop sparse centers over time and may benefit from division after six or more years of growth.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Bhattacharya noted that the United States’ investment in research has vastly improved outcomes for children with cancer.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
  • However, the group also says that early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • For the last 45 years, the CRC has assisted people facing hunger, homelessness and trauma, offering services like the shelter, a food pantry, counseling, housing assistance and more.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Launched in October 2024 as a pilot effort, the H2O initiative provides transitional housing assistance, move-in support, home modifications and case management to help individuals with serious mental illness stay in stable housing and on treatment plans.
    Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Keller took advantage and scored after two of the gaffes and the third killed a drive in the end zone.
    Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The veteran right-hander — who grew up in Anaheim — had sharp command of his pitches and used it to his advantage throughout the night.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The commission tabled the item to provide more time for Experience Fayetteville staff to evaluate the worth of the property, the house's annual expenses, a reasonable market-rate rent range and the total cost of repairs to the property paid for by Experience Fayetteville.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Without additional revenue, the IBA predicts that the PUD will need to cut its expenses by slashing either its operating costs — likely by cutting staff — or its spending on capital improvements.
    Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Help.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/help. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

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