Definition of usefulnext
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 The matchup offers a useful contrast. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 Stability without democracy is a replicable model that could normalize the management of useful authoritarian governments worldwide. Boris Muñoz, Time, 3 Apr. 2026 These services don’t have systems to ensure transparency, fair decision-making, and useful appeal processes for closed accounts. Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026 This is particularly useful in tasks that require precision. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for useful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useful
Adjective
  • Hang window boxes or baskets if applicable.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Special train times may be added for additional matches and will be communicated in advance if applicable.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
  • With abundant nutrients available, algal growth can explode, reducing oxygen levels and harming aquatic life.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The helpful trine between the Moon in your private 12th house and Jupiter in your cautious 8th house offers astrological support regarding tender topics.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Overall the staff is friendly and helpful in accommodating specific needs.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Dealings with co-workers will be practical but sympathetic.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
  • The stars favor practical compassion, where optimism pairs with accountability and follow-through.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The music on the Daryl Groetsch Bandcamp page ranges from the remarkably subtle and stirring (Home Again, the first in the series) to the purely functional (the long-form sleep aid Blotted).
    Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Laboratory tests showed the material remained functional at temperatures ranging from approximately −40°F (−40°C) to 248°F (120°C) and under near-vacuum conditions, which are similar to environments found in the upper atmosphere or space.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Companion planting is the practice of growing different plants together in mutually beneficial combinations.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Evaluate both carefully, then, before getting started, and consider the pros and cons of splitting the funds between both account types, as that can also be beneficial for many savers right now.
    Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • His attorney, Ava Benach, said Vedam hopes to live with a relative in Sacramento and has been offered a spot in Oregon State University’s doctoral program in applied anthropology.
    Mark Scolforo, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The combined sensing system allows devices to detect both simple touch and applied pressure, creating a more advanced interaction surface.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Compared to the usual hand-over-hand maneuvering, the steer-by-wire wheel is more elegant and effortless, operable with only a finger or two without any performance loss.
    Sean Evans, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The facility’s dish machines were not fully operable.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 13 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Useful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useful. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.

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