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 company says Web Guide uses a custom version of Gemini to surface the most helpful webpages and organize the page in a more useful way. Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2025 Still, many find wireless HP printers extremely useful when used with Wi-Fi, since they can be used with a range of modern devices and make printing even more seamless. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025 Specifics about what police found useful out of dozens of items seized from his apartment, his car and his parents' house have not been made public. Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2025 There's no doubt that fanny packs are useful travel bags, but they’re not always considered to be the most fashion-forward option. Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for useful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useful
Adjective
  • Detectives presented the case to the prosecuting attorney's office and concurred that no applicable charges were warranted in this case.
    NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 25 July 2025
  • Marco was ejected from the game, which under applicable rules, meant he was suspended from the following game.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • First Class tickets are not available for the 9:30 p.m. reservation.
    Bahar Anooshahr, AZCentral.com, 31 July 2025
  • The pickleball courts will continue to be available, and new sand volleyball courts are being added.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 31 July 2025
Adjective
  • But new jobs are helpful regardless of the number, according to Beaver Dam business owners.
    Rick Barrett, jsonline.com, 30 July 2025
  • With districts in desperate need of more funding, any additional administrative money from the state to schools could be helpful, said Suzanne Bellsnyder, a mother and community member who lives in Spearman, a community in the Panhandle.
    Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • Gillis and Trachtenberg explained how for the first time in the Predator movies, the face of the creature wasn’t practical, always a very challenging task, because nuanced emotional expressions were called for in which the alien was the hero.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 26 July 2025
  • Cable remains a popular and practical internet solution for many households, especially where fiber isn't yet available.
    Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 26 July 2025
Adjective
  • Names worth tracking Tolu Smith, Pistons: Smith is a pretty mobile defender for a big and showed enough skill as an offensive player to seem functional at the NBA level.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 23 July 2025
  • The state and its contractors will continue to work with Newport and Covington leaders to identify additional aesthetic and functional features to include in the project, the state press release said.
    Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • Pinkerton argues that the FDA's black box warning labels on hormone replacement therapies make women reluctant to take medications that can be beneficial for treating the symptoms of menopause.
    Katia Riddle, NPR, 25 July 2025
  • The majority of Rio’s revenue is derived from iron ore—beneficial for the present, but not quite the forward-looking term that excites the markets.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • That’s where the distinction between applied and contextual AI becomes critical.
    ByTheodore Krantz Jr, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • At the time, most basic and applied research was done by the military.
    Paul Bierman, The Conversation, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • The United States could continue to insist that Iran’s nuclear program was completely destroyed and is no longer operable.
    Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, China currently has 58 operable reactors with a total capacity of 60 GW.
    Jude Clemente, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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