aid 1 of 2

noun

Definition of aidnext
1
as in aide
a person who helps a more skilled person Jack is his mother's preferred aid in the kitchen, as his sister Janice is clumsy when it comes to chopping and peeling

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2
as in benefit
a thing that helps a dictionary is a handy aid for working crossword puzzles

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3
as in assistance
an act or instance of helping the clerk asked if she needed any aid carrying out her purchases

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

aid

2 of 2

verb

ˈād How to pronounce aid (audio)
as in to assist
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end sought to aid her in her search for a dachshund puppy by looking online

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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 aid
Noun
Political scientist Sandra Borda argued that the difficulties in aid management are related to the tense political transition between the current and previous administrations, which lacked a formal handover. — Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Health benefits Peppermint oil is widely used as pain relief, digestive aid and cold relief. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
Rodgers — who was aided by a third-down flag — completed 4-of-8 passes to lead the scoring drive. — Mike Defabo, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 That worldview has become policy, aided in part by the hollowing out of the national security workforce—now stretched thin and focused on daily operations and multiple crises—and by the stripping of its coordination functions. — Ariane Tabatabai, Time, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aid
  1. aide
  2. benefit
  3. assistance
  4. assist
  5. assistant
  6. advantage
  7. help
  8. apprentice
Noun
  • The attention to detail extended even to Obama’s on-screen aide, played by his real-life Director of Oval Office Operations Brian Mosteller.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Dade’s maternal grandmother, Beverly Anderson, told WKBW-TV that her granddaughter worked as a health aide for elderly people and aspired to become a nurse.
    — Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of aide
Noun
  • It’s made of wrinkle- and shrink-resistant Tencel fabric, which is beloved for its moisture-wicking and silky benefits.
    — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026
  • His base salary was $118,356 in 2022, and his total pay and benefits were $155,776.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of benefit
Noun
  • Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong pledged to provide mental health assistance to students and ramp up security measures at educational institutions.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Power comes from a mid-drive motor producing 100 Nm of torque, paired with a responsive torque sensor that adjusts assistance based on your pedal pressure.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of assistance
Verb
  • Huang of the Taiwan Network Information Center said the July incident demonstrated that AI has become the main player in cybersecurity beyond simply assisting human hackers in partial automation tasks.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The Suffolk County District Attorney's office is assisting in the investigation.
    — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of assist
Noun
  • Second-year University of Connecticut student Kira Mesick jumped at the chance to fill a resident assistant job at the university’s new, $29 million residence hall in downtown Hartford, seizing on its Pratt Street location.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Sustaining a life in medicine would be impossible without the support of my colleagues — doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, technicians and translators.
    — Rajani LaRocca, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of assistant
Noun
  • Sunday was their highest-scoring opening frame of the season, and their 29-15 lead was their best opening advantage since a 25-10 lead against the Sparks on June 15.
    — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • When jobs change quickly, the ability to learn, adjust, and respond gives you an advantage.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of advantage
Noun
  • The district is also preparing to develop a new elementary-school literacy curriculum this school year, with the help of new state funding.
    — Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Many of the students who will be returning to Georgia’s campuses this month are only able to afford school with the help of federal student loans.
    — Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of help
Noun
  • City Colleges recently launched Chicago Moonshot, an apprenticeship initiative associated with the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park, where the district has committed to graduating hundreds of IT apprentices over the next five years.
    — Shalin Jyotishi, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The apprentices worked in an assembly line fashion, taking each computer out of the box and plugging it into a charging station.
    — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of apprentice

Browse Nearby Words

ahead of
aid
aide
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Cite this Entry

“Aid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aid. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on aid

Nglish: Translation of aid for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aid

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