useful

adjective

ˈyüs-fəl How to pronounce useful (audio)
Definition of usefulnext
1
as in applicable
capable of being put to use or account useful suggestions for limiting the amount of food we eat

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in available
capable of or suitable for being used for a particular purpose I've found this tool really useful for making sure all my pictures are hung straight

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3
as in helpful
providing service or assistance hopefully, the consultant's financial advice will prove useful in planning for our retirement

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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 useful If a publisher or agency leaves Madrid having started a real conversation with a production company, studio or platform, then the pitch has already been useful. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026 Roosevelt is arguably the more useful example, precisely because of his hesitation, pragmatism, and self-interest. — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 That’s why Bank of America believes commercial adoption remains early and anticipates more useful systems by 2030. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026 Another person may approach the goal differently, which could be useful rather than irritating. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for useful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useful
  1. applicable
  2. available
  3. helpful
  4. practical
  5. functional
  6. beneficial
  7. applied
  8. operable
Adjective
  • The court's conservative majority has, in multiple cases, ruled in favor of religious exemptions from generally applicable laws.
    — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The taxation of payments depends on the trust’s income and the applicable ordering rules, so the payments should not automatically be considered tax-free.
    — D. Scott Kenik, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of applicable
Adjective
  • Room service is available around the clock, and breakfast is included in the room rate; expect traditional dishes like eggs Benedict, as well as decadent homemade pastries.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Keep reading to find more must-have devices available at Amazon right now.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of available
Adjective
  • Seek out additional resources Looking into additional resources such as food banks, SNAP or hardship help programs in your area can be helpful, Rathner said.
    — Adriana Morga, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Much of the staff has worked here for years; everyone who helped us was remarkably knowledgeable and helpful.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of helpful
Adjective
  • One practical investment of time, money, or effort can give a larger idea somewhere real to begin.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Advances in electrical power systems, tracking technology, beam control and compact high-energy lasers are making the concept increasingly practical.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of practical
Adjective
  • If something goes wrong, functional self-closing doors can be the difference between a scare and a disaster.
    — Lillian Bonsignore, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Regular sessions – led by cross-functional AI task forces or AI champions – can also help knowledge workers keep up with rapidly evolving AI tools.
    — Monideepa Tarafdar, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of functional
Adjective
  • Unlocking the full benefits of fiber More focused research is needed to understand more about the types of fiber that are beneficial to health, in what doses, and in what combinations.
    — Jean Liew, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The new standard is cold water for everything, including towels, except when warm or hot water is beneficial or necessary.
    — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of beneficial
Adjective
  • Its analysis found that 74% of those mentions were tied to real-world projects rather than coursework, an indication students are trying to demonstrate their applied experience.
    — Corynn Winston, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
  • By combining aluminum’s low weight with a pre-applied coating, the company is targeting a way to make battery components easier to manufacture while meeting durability and insulation requirements.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of applied
Adjective
  • But construction has been confined to the Central Valley and nowhere is the line operable.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • They’re also treated like bicycles and are required to have operable pedals, for instance.
    — Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of operable

Browse Nearby Words

used up
useful
usefulness
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Cite this Entry

“Useful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useful. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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