1
as in applicable
capable of being put to use or account
useful suggestions for limiting the amount of food we eat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
For travelers trying to stay on top of their routines while on-the-go, the insights can be surprisingly useful.
—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
26 June 2026
An agent that must embed in the system of record to be useful makes the owner of that record more valuable, because the agent cannot function without it.
—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The vast space remained useful in other ways for a while.
—
Henry Kornaros,
Curbed,
26 June 2026
Still, gold’s stabilizing role can be especially useful for investors with shorter time horizons, where protecting against inflation and market volatility becomes more important.
—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for useful
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
26 June 2026
An agent that must embed in the system of record to be useful makes the owner of that record more valuable, because the agent cannot function without it.
—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The vast space remained useful in other ways for a while.
—
Henry Kornaros,
Curbed,
26 June 2026
Still, gold’s stabilizing role can be especially useful for investors with shorter time horizons, where protecting against inflation and market volatility becomes more important.
—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for useful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useful
Adjective
-
Erie Mayor Andrew Moore said the executive sessions followed all applicable laws and that nothing improper had been brought to the town's attention.
-
Cohen said Humble Robotics is working to make cabless vehicles applicable to public roads, particularly those surrounding the busy ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Adjective
-
Once, out of those 14 calls, the auto-attendant offered to have an agent call me back when one became available.
-
Suarez complained of forearm tightness in his pitching arm last week and wasn’t available to throw against the Padres in San Diego.
Adjective
-
Having a separate room to have this man handle his emotions may be helpful too.
-
An abundance of hints, clues and other helpful items await, not to mention a bonus Custom Wordle and plenty more.
Adjective
-
Aquarius January 20 – February 18 When opinions clash, lead with practical care.
-
As a practical example, the Knicks would love to bring Shamet back to the team next season.
Adjective
-
Corneliani updated its sartorial proposition via functional details befitting a very dapper explorer.
-
The previous phases decompress, mobilize and activate individual areas; this one integrates all of those aspects into coordinated, whole-body functional movement.
Adjective
-
Australia and Paraguay completed the first 45 minutes of what could be a mutually beneficial draw.
-
For decades, Californians have generally said immigrants, who make up more than a quarter of the state’s population and a third of its labor force, are beneficial to the state and its economy.
Adjective
-
Early days An engineer by background, Shotwell graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in applied mathematics.
-
The 20th-century playbook The campaign that beat the screwworm the first time is widely regarded as a major achievement in applied biology.
Adjective
-
Just keeping these buildings operable is expensive, and the district struggles to meet even immediate building needs because capacity gets crowded out by legacy debt payments and operational revenue shortfalls.
-
The department is also advancing plans for the South Delta Gates project, which would replace the temporary rock barriers with permanent operable gates.
Cite this Entry
“Useful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useful. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
