Synonyms of helped

helped

verb

past tense of help

1

as in aided

to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end

offered to help her widowed father when he moved into an apartment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aided
• assisted
• supported
• reinforced
• abetted
• encouraged
• backed
• facilitated
• saved
• bolstered
• guided
• promoted
• propped (up)
• endorsed
• backstopped
• sponsored
• benefited
• furthered
• comforted
• fostered
• bore a hand
• served
• championed
• launched
• attended
• forwarded
• rescued
• stood one in good stead
• sustained
• eased
• advised
• patronized
• boosted
• obliged
• advanced
• nurtured
• emboldened
• profited
• ministered (to)
• buttressed
• succored
• mentored
• counseled
• heartened
• favored
• cared (for)
• bailed out
• delivered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hindered
• hampered
• impeded
• failed
• inhibited
• blocked
• opposed
• handicapped
• constrained
• restrained
• interfered
• obstructed
• barred
• balked
• thwarted
• held back
• frustrated
• strangled
• disappointed
• baffled
• discouraged
• deserted
• foiled
• let down
• sabotaged
• hurt
• inconvenienced
• damaged
• injured
• disheartened
• harmed
• stifled
• stunted
• repressed
• retarded
• straitened

2

as in relieved

to make more bearable or less severe

the new ointment didn't help Josh's sunburn one bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relieved
• alleviated
• soothed
• eased
• mitigated
• softened
• improved
• allayed
• healed
• cured
• assuaged
• mollified
• enhanced
• lightened
• tempered
• remedied
• palliated
• corrected
• moderated
• abated
• repaired
• amended
• fixed
• enriched
• refined
• rectified
• bettered
• perfected
• reformed
• ameliorated
• emended
• mended
• meliorated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hurt
• aggravated
• impaired
• injured
• exacerbated
• intensified
• harmed
• heightened
• sharpened

3

as in prevented

to keep from happening by taking action in advance

they couldn't help the way things turned out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prevented
• averted
• precluded
• avoided
• provided
• obviated
• escaped
• forestalled
• anticipated
• saved
• hindered
• headed off
• hampered
• deterred
• impeded
• thwarted
• shook
• evaded
• neutralized
• nullified
• staved off
• stopped
• balked
• baffled
• eluded
• frustrated
• forbade
• negated
• interfered (with)
• stalled
• deflected
• foiled
• prohibited
• shunned
• retarded
• blocked
• offset
• made up (for)
• eschewed
• counteracted
• inhibited
• checked
• circumvented
• halted
• counterbalanced
• compensated (for)
• arrested
• barred
• dodged
• ducked
• checkmated
• fended (off)
• warded (off)
• shirked

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• aided
• assisted
• abetted
• facilitated
• encouraged
• eased
• smoothed
• promoted
• fostered
• let
• allowed
• cultivated
• furthered
• advanced
• left
• forwarded
• nurtured
• permitted
• unclogged

4

as in benefited

to provide with something useful or desirable

being independently wealthy certainly helped him during his years as a struggling young artist

Synonyms & Similar Words

• benefited
• profited
• availed
• aided
• served
• assisted
• improved
• succeeded
• advantaged
• worked (for)
• pleased
• blessed
• delighted
• satisfied
• gratified
• bettered
• contented
• gladdened

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hindered
• hurt
• injured
• impaired
• damaged
• impeded
• upset
• harmed
• afflicted
• distressed

5

as in improved

to make better

some minor revisions would help this essay immensely

Synonyms & Similar Words

• improved
• enhanced
• refined
• enriched
• perfected
• amended
• bettered
• upgraded
• remedied
• ameliorated
• reinforced
• meliorated
• remediated
• strengthened
• corrected
• intensified
• rectified
• revised
• rehabilitated
• reformed
• reworked
• boosted
• edited
• emended
• revamped
• redrafted
• fine-tuned
• refurbished
• fined
• honed
• fortified
• polished
• rehabbed
• retouched
• beefed (up)
• touched up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• worsened
• hurt
• harmed
• impaired
• damaged
• injured
• tarnished
• vitiated
• spoiled
• reduced
• flawed
• marred
• blighted
• disfigured
• diminished
• lowered
• lessened
• defaced
• endamaged
• blemished

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of helped

The group, which helped defend Idaho’s and West Virginia’s bans, has gone after Connecticut for allowing transgender females to compete in girls’ athletic events. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Electronic music helped entice fans into downtown’s revitalization in the 2000s. — Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

That work helped lead to, in 2024, the Federal Trade Commission implementing a rule that banned junk fees for hotels, vacation rentals, and live events. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 7 July 2026

Her youthful protege, 30-year-old Bardella, has been RN’s official leader since 2022 and is seen as having helped to distance the party from the toxic views of its founder and boost its appeal with younger voters. — Melissa Bell, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

In the 2019 pro-democracy movement, Wong helped seek overseas support for the protests. — ABC News, 7 July 2026

Despite the financing challenges, new state housing laws have helped spur an ADU boom statewide in recent years. — Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

Two police unions in Cambridge are saying technology that detected gunshots in the city but was removed by a city council vote in May could have helped a man found shot dead over the weekend. — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026

Kepler recently hit his first home run since his comeback, a significant milestone that helped the Diamondbacks defeat a division rival. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026