1
as in applicable
capable of being put to use or account
useful suggestions for limiting the amount of food we eat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of useful
What are the risks of buy now, pay later?
Experts who spoke to USA TODAY said that buy now, pay later can be useful for those who use it responsibly.
—
Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
Early on, Scharf discovered his training as a public defender was surprisingly useful in the cutthroat world of entertainment law.
—Claudia Rosenbaum, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2025
Using packing cubes can also be useful to prevent things from shifting around.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2025
Ndiaye likes coming inside on his stronger right foot, while McNeil is more useful going on the outside and using his left.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for useful
Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
Early on, Scharf discovered his training as a public defender was surprisingly useful in the cutthroat world of entertainment law.
—Claudia Rosenbaum, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2025
Using packing cubes can also be useful to prevent things from shifting around.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2025
Ndiaye likes coming inside on his stronger right foot, while McNeil is more useful going on the outside and using his left.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for useful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useful
Adjective
-
First, the courts – and in particular the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts – have been expanding corporate constitutional rights, which could allow dual-class founders to carve out exceptions to generally applicable laws.—
Gregory H. Shill,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2025
-
And to be sure, some may be more applicable to large companies in general, and to the financial services sector in particular, than to the broader commercial sector.—
Michael Peregrine,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
According to the company, the date the totes will be available in each Trader Joe’s will vary, but shoppers are already lining up at different store locations that have already received the bags.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The ability to easily reuse notes is more helpful than the ability to catalogue and archive memos.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 Apr. 2025
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This can be helpful for disputing charges and clearing your record.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to the technological advances required to put a human on Mars, however, is the very practical necessity of developing sustainable food sources in space.—
Margherita Bassi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
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However, for shorter flights or limited bag space, compact, compressible options — such as inflatable neck pillows, silk sleep masks, or small travel blankets — are more practical.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The seating options, fluctuating between beige-brown and flashes of fire-engine red, are strictly functional: boxy armchairs clustered around low tables or standard four-tops by the hot breakfast buffet.—
Scott Campbell,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Apr. 2025
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Public transportation options are quirky but functional.—
Kathleen Peddicord,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In theory, moving some greater amount of electronics manufacturing to U.S. soil could be a beneficial strategy.—
Damon Beres,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
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Though fluoride is seen as beneficial by medical experts, its use in drinking water has sparked a debate ignited by Kennedy, who has been a vocal opponent of fluoride use.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
While a regional court in Cologne initially recognized four of Birkenstock’s shoe models as works of applied art and granted the company’s orders in 2017, a higher regional court in the city later overturned the orders on appeal in 2022.—
Karen K. Ho,
ARTnews.com,
21 Feb. 2025
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In 1994, the applied mathematician Peter Shor was inspired by a recent oracle result to develop a fast quantum algorithm for factoring large numbers—a task whose apparent difficulty underlies the cryptographic systems that keep our online data secure.—
Ben Brubaker,
WIRED,
2 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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While the games are only operable while the car is in park, that hasn’t stopped driving safety advocates from raising concerns.—
Kevin Williams,
Quartz,
2 Apr. 2025
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The monument, a full-size formerly operable helicopter, is called the Cmdr.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Useful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useful. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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