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
  • Pink Floyd Claims 10% of the Chart The band fills four spaces on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart this frame, claiming 10% of all available real estate.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Anthropic said many of these integrations are available on Tuesday, with more to come.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Blocking noise is a helpful feature for parents of napping children and night nurses who require restful sleep after their shifts.
    Jacqueline Tempera, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • The former are helpful metrics to summarize on an Activities List in their college applications, while the latter can serve as inspiration for their personal and supplemental essays.
    Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
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
  • To top it off, the Gaviota has earned a seal of acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), which only goes to shoes that experts consider beneficial for foot health.
    Sara Coughlin, SELF, 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 29 Jul. 2025.

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