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
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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
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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
Adjective
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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
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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
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Purchased for over $3 million and built in 1947, Kent’s home is a practical retreat that blends a modern farmhouse exterior with a fresh, contemporary interior.—
Amanda Lauren,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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Our conversation revolved around the following 10 practical lessons for building transformational leadership teams.—
Brendan Keegan,
Rolling Stone,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That midfield, while working well, remains very functional.—
Matt Woosnam,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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The challenge surgically, if that is what is needed, is the ability of the eyelid to remain functional to cover the eye and close.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This may be an area where an open triggering standard could be beneficial.—
Jason Andersen,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Every trade that occurs in the marketplace is mutually beneficial.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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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Provide access to outdoor spaces and other sources of biophilia, including natural light and air, through operable windows.—
Sharron van der Meulen,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Useful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useful. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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