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 At the same time, streaming services, which lump together listeners from around the globe, provide a useful reminder that Anglophones constitute a distinct minority of the international music audience. Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025 Sterilite 18-Quart Clear Stackable Storage Tote Clear stackable totes are useful for just about anything, and this Sterilite bin is no exception. Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025 Some researchers argue that UPFs are too broad a category to be useful, lumping together yogurts and whole-grain breads with potato chips and candy. William Warr, Time, 15 Sep. 2025 The new upscaling features should be more broadly useful, even for the lower-end GPUs in Apple's products. ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for useful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useful
Adjective
  • These collaborations aren’t just applicable in the world of social media.
    John Hall, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Mad Men would be named Best Drama for a third straight year and Temple Grandin commenced what turned out to be a seemingly endless onslaught at every applicable awards show, as the TV-movie tied an Emmy record with five major wins.
    Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • As 9to5Mac reports, hypertension alerts will become available in over 150 countries and regions, including the US and the EU, next week.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
  • That figure is currently just above 50%, extrapolating from available data.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These offer a helpful guide to behaviors with positive effects.
    Tracy Brower, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • This can be helpful for people who have back and knee pain.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • From oversized coats and baggy denim to textured layers of suede and faux fur, the runways were filled with pieces that are not only chic but also practical.
    Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2025
  • But no one had figured out how to make the effect powerful enough for practical use—until now.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The jeans also have a cropped length that hits right at the ankle and patch pockets that not only look cute, but are also functional.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
  • At home, his kitchen is as functional and ergonomic as those professional spaces, with a bit more room for fun.
    Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Cash from each subsidiary was then redirected to the most beneficial investment within the holding company.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
  • While controversial, Mayer generally feels positive about the technology and believes this innovation can be beneficial to both the brand and consumer.
    Amanda Lauren, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That includes providing students with applied and work-based learning experiences in high school, as well as career exposure and exploration opportunities that begin in age-appropriate ways in middle school.
    Matt Gandal, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • However, the study can only show an association and not a direct cause and effect, said Duval, who now directs applied research at CReATe Fertility Centre, a fertility clinic in Toronto.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Approved by voters hoodwinked by false cost estimates, the project was supposed to be operable by 2020 at a cost of $33 billion.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Its first operable segment in the Central Valley— a 172-mile stretch between Merced and Bakersfield slated to open in 2033 — is far from the original vision and the $14 billion needed to close the funding gap by June 2026 remains elusive.
    Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Useful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useful. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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