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 Connection Apps The internet is full of useful resources for building connections. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025 And while Patrick could’ve still been a useful piece on this team, the Lions are loaded between Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, Raymond and rookie Isaac TeSlaa. Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025 To him, these forgeries were useful in convincing skeptics of fractal geometry’s usefulness. Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 17 Aug. 2025 Lead with a useful tip or a light-hearted take, then weave in your message. John Hall, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for useful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useful
Adjective
  • Perhaps in this case, however, the old adage that all publicity is good publicity is very applicable here, because all of the intrigue surrounding Belichick — whose personal life was historically shrouded in mystery — has made North Carolina that much more of a premier team.
    Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Open to individual legal residents of the United States (including the District of Columbia, but excluding the U.S. territories and possessions), age 18 (or the legal age of majority, as applicable) as of entry date.
    SJ Studio, Sourcing Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Moreover, creditors have very frequently obtained the descriptive materials of planners about their asset protection planning, whether from websites, CLE presentations, social media, and every other available source.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • There are publicly available databases – such as the online detainee locator – where anyone can search for people held in ICE facilities, Rose said.
    Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • So, if the forecasts are not helpful, what does the data say about the Fed’s current policy stance?
    Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Tennessee previously participated in the program, and advocates and Tennessee families told The Tennessean in December the program was very helpful in supplementing household budgets when kids are out of school.
    Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • And suddenly, the debate about BCIs shifted from theoretical promise to practical and very human consequences.
    Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
  • The woman offered to reimburse her mother for the wine, making the request practical and thoughtful.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Each one will present functional yet experimental works that support retail environments.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 28 Aug. 2025
  • And this organic cotton boyfriend sweater is both functional and chic.
    Claire Gallam, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • There are situations where roads are beneficial to wildfire suppression efforts.
    Nathan Rott, NPR, 29 Aug. 2025
  • The idea was to boost China’s economic and trade partnerships in the process, with the BRI billed as a mutually beneficial vehicle for development, foreign direct investment, economic growth and cooperation.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The project will bring together the historically Black, public university's engineering programs and its applied and industrial technology program into an interdisciplinary complex, according to an Aug. 18 news release.
    Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 19 Aug. 2025
  • With developers and non-developers alike embracing AI agents to automate, iterate, and build entire applications, this space is becoming one of the hottest frontiers in applied artificial intelligence.
    Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • Authorities recovered a bottle of alcohol and two operable firearms with ammunition in a shoebox in the vehicle, according to court docs.
    Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2025
  • China’s ‘Linglong One’ was the world’s first operable commercial SMR, with the second being in Russia.
    Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Useful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useful. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

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