1
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 This tool is very useful in remote Kenya, one of the areas where the AI ultrasound was tested. Anita Zaidi, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2025 Bobby and Hank battle and bond over various generational divisions, like whether beer should taste like fruit and if, maybe, charcoal can be a useful cooking tool sometimes. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Aug. 2025 Going forward, mathematicians—who are still poring over the details of the new proof—want to test whether similar techniques might be useful in other, even more realistic contexts. Leila Sloman, Wired News, 3 Aug. 2025 The Pro edition is particularly useful for those managing multiple machines, handling sensitive data, or running advanced configurations. PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for useful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useful
Adjective
  • These five fundamental savings strategies are applicable to any income-level or age group, and essential for long-term financial stability.
    True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Hims & Hers has said consumers may still be able to access personalized doses through its site if clinically applicable.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The rookie fifth-round pick got the start with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel all out of the lineup, leaving Sanders and Tyler Huntley as the only two available QBs.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
  • For many of these series, like Love Life, box sets or DVDs have never been available to purchase, meaning streaming is the only way to see it.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Earlier this year, an update made the model too agreeable, sometimes saying what sounded nice instead of what was actually helpful.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Bats are mostly helpful, rarely harmful and play a vital role in the ecosystem.
    Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Open banking never had a moment like that in Western markets, a large-scale, practical reason for consumers to try something new.
    Mustafa Khanwala, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • For Kahani, the shift was both philosophical and practical.
    Callum McLennan, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Samsung, meanwhile, has had functional Galaxy AI features since the Galaxy S24.
    Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Making Metro functional for the 2028 Olympics is on the things-to-do list for Los Angeles officials.
    Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Insects are part of a garden's ecosystem, and most of them are beneficial; only a tiny fraction are serious pests.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025
  • For traders focused on events, recognizing these historical trends can be beneficial.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • With developers and non-developers alike embracing AI agents to automate, iterate, and build entire applications, this space is becoming one of the hottest frontiers in applied artificial intelligence.
    Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
  • In the life sciences segment, Blair said that while clinical and applied markets demand was good globally, it was offset by weak demand in academic and government end markets — a continuation of the dynamics seen in recent quarters.
    Zev Fima, CNBC, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • Authorities recovered a bottle of alcohol and two operable firearms with ammunition in a shoebox in the vehicle, according to court docs.
    Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2025
  • China’s ‘Linglong One’ was the world’s first operable commercial SMR, with the second being in Russia.
    Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Useful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useful. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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