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Definition of helpnext
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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
Jacob refuses, severs his bond with the pack, and helps the Cullens protect a rapidly declining Bella. Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026 The Eurythmics' Dave Stewart couldn't help but laugh at his bandmate, Annie Lennox, dressed up as Elvis for the 1984 show. Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
In a six-paragraph social media post, Cooper thanked his family, coaches and teammates among others for their help and support during his four-year journey from Indianapolis prep star through two losing seasons at Indiana before becoming both a national champion and a Big Ten Conference champion. Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026 The numbers reported by state police do not account for crashes or calls for help handled by local police and fire departments. Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for help
Recent Examples of Synonyms for help
Verb
  • The move comes as nine local district attorneys launched a coalition this week to assist in prosecuting federal law enforcement officers who violate state laws.
    Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
  • In California, members of the National Guard have peace officer powers when called into active service by the governor and are assisting authorities in an area where military assistance is required, according to state law.
    Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Convinced by Erdoğan’s argument that only a strong leader could alleviate their concerns about the country’s security and economy, the people of Turkey had approved his proposal.
    Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
  • In the meantime, proposals gaining traction in the legislature aim to find ways to enact cost savings within the Pathways program, with the hopes that this in turn could be used to alleviate the waitlist.
    Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could extend the terms of the treaty or renegotiate its conditions in an effort to prevent a new nuclear arms race.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Warming a meal completely takes about 15 minutes, with the temperature reaching 55 ºC (131 ºF) to ensure adequate heating that does not damage nutrients and prevents bacterial contamination.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • At the time, many of the provisions contained benefited from bipartisan support.
    Charles Lloyd Bovaird II, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Smith said a model incorporating all trade union concerns works at Fullstack Modular in Carson, for example, where workers benefit from, among other things, being able to work at one location rather than ever-changing construction sites.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Kiki Rice had 17 points and seven assists and Lauren Betts scored 16 points as the Bruins (21-1, 11-0 Big Ten) remained the only undefeated team in conference play while improving to 10-0 at home.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Next, the researchers aim to improve their technique further, with the goal of predicting not only when solar activity will intensify, but also where on the sun’s surface active regions are likely to form.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • During the speech, the mayor also announced 100 free watch parties during the World Cup throughout the city, $14 million in rental assistance for Angelenos and the relaunch of the city’s House Our Vets program, which helps veterans find stable housing.
    Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Through the online application, eligible Californians can apply, while those who prefer in-person assistance can now drop by the new walk-in site for enrollment or document submission support.
    William Jones, Sacbee.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The Cougars finished with four turnovers and held a 26-8 advantage in points in the paint.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Columbus blanked the Blackhawks on their two power-play chances, running their string of futility to 26 man-advantages and 10 games without a goal.
    CBS News, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Hospitals have used what are sometimes called blackout procedures, which can include registering a patient under a pseudonym, removing their name from the hospital directory, or prohibiting staff from even confirming that a patient is in the hospital.
    Claudia Boyd-Barrett, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The lawsuit Reilly filed alleges that police were contacted by staff at Midstate Medical Center and told of Mollow’s statements about wanting to kill Ashworth.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Help.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/help. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.

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