1
: of or relating to or advocating utilitarianism
2
: marked by utilitarian views or practices
3
a
: of, relating to, or aiming at utility
b
: exhibiting or preferring mere utility
spare utilitarian furnishings
Examples of utilitarian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
That's the whole beauty of the utilitarian meets beautiful design.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Mar. 2023
For fall, the talented Japanese designer went full-on utilitarian for a dark and aggressive display that used toggles, armor-like padded coats, ninja mouth coverings and black head gear that evoked the garb of combative sports such as fencing.
—Thomas Adamson, ajc, 4 Mar. 2023
Is Thanos a ruthless villain or a consistent utilitarian—or are those the same thing?
—Adam Kirsch, WSJ, 22 July 2022
Clearly, for a utilitarian like me, the benefits greatly outweigh the costs.
—New York Times, 24 Dec. 2020
Then there are utilitarians — the greatest good, for the greatest number overall.
—Jim Beckerman, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2019
Consequentialists—including utilitarians, the most famous kind—are concerned with the outcomes and consequences of actions first and foremost.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2018
Besides, as long as these readers really are utilitarians and not Kantians, there’s nothing to stop them from quietly resubscribing in a month or two.
—Will Oremus, Slate Magazine, 1 May 2017
Bill Kearney, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Originally worn by surfers in Australia in the 1960s, over the decades the utilitarian shoes have become a mainstream must-have–and for customers who frequently have no intention of wearing them to the beach.
—Alexandre Marain, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024
Detailed budget breakdowns for three renovations, all completed within the last year
Bathroom No. 1
Bathroom No. 2
Bathroom No. 3
Bathrooms are some of the most utilitarian rooms in our homes.
—Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Yet the collection also felt distinctly alpine: clean, utilitarian and sporty.
—Laura May Todd, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Embracing the darkness Save for pops of scarlet leather, the color palette in Milan was overwhelmingly dark and utilitarian for Fall-Winter 2024, with dark khaki and olive greens dominating (beautifully at Ferragamo and Tod’s).
—Scarlett Conlon, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024
Where the former is flavorful—even spicy—the latter is subtler and more utilitarian.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 13 Mar. 2024
Kitchen window treatments are one of the few elements of softness and decoration in a functional space of utilitarian appliances and hard surfaces.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024
Her outfit included a navy cashmere cardigan with utilitarian pocket details with matching louche trousers in the same butter-soft fabric.
—Alex Kessler, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2024
Noun
From there Kate adds in details and decor elements that might seem over the top from the standard utilitarian set up.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
That's the whole beauty of the utilitarian meets beautiful design.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Mar. 2023
For fall, the talented Japanese designer went full-on utilitarian for a dark and aggressive display that used toggles, armor-like padded coats, ninja mouth coverings and black head gear that evoked the garb of combative sports such as fencing.
—Thomas Adamson, ajc, 4 Mar. 2023
Is Thanos a ruthless villain or a consistent utilitarian—or are those the same thing?
—Adam Kirsch, WSJ, 22 July 2022
Clearly, for a utilitarian like me, the benefits greatly outweigh the costs.
—New York Times, 24 Dec. 2020
Then there are utilitarians — the greatest good, for the greatest number overall.
—Jim Beckerman, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2019
Consequentialists—including utilitarians, the most famous kind—are concerned with the outcomes and consequences of actions first and foremost.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2018
Besides, as long as these readers really are utilitarians and not Kantians, there’s nothing to stop them from quietly resubscribing in a month or two.
—Will Oremus, Slate Magazine, 1 May 2017
Adjective
The original Corps plan for Charleston has a utilitarian vertical seawall that looked more like a concrete cage hemming the city in.
—Bill Kearney, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Originally worn by surfers in Australia in the 1960s, over the decades the utilitarian shoes have become a mainstream must-have–and for customers who frequently have no intention of wearing them to the beach.
—Alexandre Marain, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024
Detailed budget breakdowns for three renovations, all completed within the last year
Bathroom No. 1
Bathroom No. 2
Bathroom No. 3
Bathrooms are some of the most utilitarian rooms in our homes.
—Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Yet the collection also felt distinctly alpine: clean, utilitarian and sporty.
—Laura May Todd, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Embracing the darkness Save for pops of scarlet leather, the color palette in Milan was overwhelmingly dark and utilitarian for Fall-Winter 2024, with dark khaki and olive greens dominating (beautifully at Ferragamo and Tod’s).
—Scarlett Conlon, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024
Where the former is flavorful—even spicy—the latter is subtler and more utilitarian.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 13 Mar. 2024
Kitchen window treatments are one of the few elements of softness and decoration in a functional space of utilitarian appliances and hard surfaces.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024
Her outfit included a navy cashmere cardigan with utilitarian pocket details with matching louche trousers in the same butter-soft fabric.
—Alex Kessler, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'utilitarian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near utilitarian
Cite this Entry
“Utilitarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utilitarian. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share