help 1 of 2

1
2
3
4
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

5

help

2 of 2

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
But Kim has broached the subject of living in a new place with better schools that would help their daughter's overall well-being. Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025 But perhaps more importantly, Cork Tree helped the band become the therapists pumping through the speakers of a whole generation of skinny jean-wearing teens, igniting the pop-punk and emo music scene into a blazing force for the masses. Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
Mollick uses one set of models for coding, and another for editorial help—common among power users. Tharin Pillay, Time, 21 Oct. 2025 This defense needs help in myriad ways. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for help
Recent Examples of Synonyms for help
Verb
  • Wealthier Americans have been assisted by rising house values, lucrative stock market returns and favorable credit, while lower- and middle-income buyers have faced tighter budgets and have been hit hard by rising inflation.
    Michael Wayland, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Local media has reported that Hong Kong's Government Flying Service deployed helicopters above the affected runway, and Fire Services Department vessels also assisted with the rescue operations.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Research shows that people who acknowledge or apologize for rejection risk activating the rejectee’s ire, rather than alleviating hurt feelings.
    Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
  • All the while, opportunities for renewable energy development — which could quickly alleviate some of the pain from electric bills and electricity demand from new industry — are constricting across the state.
    Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • According to the Department of Transportation, daylight saving time saves energy, prevents traffic injuries and reduces crime.
    Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Oct. 2025
  • What was meant to prevent violence ended up turning an ordinary moment into a frightening encounter with armed officers.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This allows users to benefit from AI acceleration without exposing sensitive information.
    Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Stinging Nettle Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), used as a tea or supplement, may benefit a wide range of illnesses, from heart disease to arthritis.
    MD Published, Verywell Health, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • These mini-workouts break up long periods of sitting and may improve heart and muscle health, especially for inactive adults.
    Simon Spichak, Health, 22 Oct. 2025
  • That money is being taken away from habitat management, stocking and improving fisheries for anglers.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Kleinschmidt’s sessions, with their assistance in permitting him to air these childhood traumas and the interplay of insight and folly in Freudianism, was the stew out of which emerged the novel that made Roth a household name.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The Salvation Army provides breakfast to the public, shelter, utility assistance, and a food pantry, among other services.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez was dead against the idea, with his club arguing that breaking the traditional home and away format adulterated the competition, while also expressing concern over participating teams gaining a financial advantage.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Legalized betting has certain security advantages in that unusual betting patterns — such as large bets being placed on a random player’s performance — can be immediately flagged.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Flip Putthoff is a staff photographer and outdoors reporter.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The trials were conducted by BAE Systems and the ship’s staff, and activity was monitored by SDA and Ministry of Defence naval architects and overseers.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Help.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/help. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on help

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!