as in useful
capable of being put to use or account
She found his theories utilitarian in constructing her own.
of, relating to, or being a method of computer programming in which each step of the solution to a problem is contained in a separate subprogram
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Recent Examples of utilitarian
The space was as vast as an airplane hangar, at once utilitarian and fanciful—a Bed Bath & Beyond stockroom crossed with a cabinet of curiosities.
—
Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Nothing fancy, affordable and utilitarian.
—Laura Lane, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
There are lots of styles of dog sweaters to choose from on the market, from utilitarian to high fashion.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Some hosts may feel comfortable simply pointing you in the right direction, but others may prefer keeping utilitarian spaces out of sight.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for utilitarian
Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Nothing fancy, affordable and utilitarian.
—Laura Lane, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
There are lots of styles of dog sweaters to choose from on the market, from utilitarian to high fashion.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Some hosts may feel comfortable simply pointing you in the right direction, but others may prefer keeping utilitarian spaces out of sight.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for utilitarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for utilitarian
Adjective
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Many event producers often receive severe verbal abuse on social media when elements of an event go wrong, an experience Wendel says was not necessarily pleasant, but ultimately useful.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
10 Nov. 2025
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Apollo’s entry is useful for the massive €800m ‘Sports City’ currently being built on land the club owns surrounding the Metropolitano, including a new training ground for Diego Simeone’s first team, and public facilities for golf, padel and skating, and Europe’s largest inland surfing centre.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Industry pushback and innovation concerns Some tech companies argue that such regulation could stifle innovation, limit beneficial uses of conversational AI (education, mental-health support for older teens) or impose heavy compliance burdens.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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However, most are weaker and can deliver beneficial precipitation to water supplies, according to NOAA.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Utilitarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/utilitarian. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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