helpful

adjective

ˈhelp-fəl How to pronounce helpful (audio)
Definition of helpfulnext
1
as in useful
providing service or assistance a website that I've always found to be helpful for finding information on common medical problems

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in beneficial
promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being the teachers felt that it would be helpful to have more than one thesaurus in the classroom

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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 helpful Joint practices are often as helpful — if not more helpful, players have said — as the preseason games for finding good reps against opponents and truly making strides as a team. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2026 Taking vacation time can be helpful, but if the team member spends their vacation worrying about work, their time away probably won’t provide balance. — Doreen Samelson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Continuing to dwell on this hurt will not be helpful at this point. — Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 Keep reading to learn all the steps involved in cleaning a betta fish tank, maintaining water quality and other helpful information to make the process go more smoothly. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for helpful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helpful
  1. useful
  2. beneficial
  3. favorable
  4. good
  5. friendly
Adjective
  • Toilet seats designed for American Standard models can also have some useful features, such as a slow-close function that protects the bowl from damage.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • His shoot-first mindset adds a useful dimension to Tottenham’s attack, particularly when lining up alongside Dominic Solanke, a natural facilitator, and Kudus, who was Tottenham’s primary creative outlet in the frontline before his injury.
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of useful
Adjective
  • Determine whether the signal represents ordinary variation, beneficial adaptation, or emerging deterioration.
    — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Both receptors are common on human airway cells High levels of stimulation are detrimental, the researchers wrote, whereas moderate levels indicating small amounts of time spent in cowsheds seemed to be beneficial.
    — Baltimore Sun, Boston Herald, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of beneficial
Adjective
  • This year, however, the Supreme Court cleared the way for Alabama to use a map more favorable to Republicans, which eliminates one of Alabama's two majority-Black seats.
    — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • This year's display is particularly favorable because the shower peaks on the night of the new moon, leaving skies free from bright moonlight that can wash out fainter meteors.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of favorable
Adjective
  • For the mostly Hispanic agriculture and food processing workers, the data center boom hasn’t been all good.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Villa’s recent warm-up defeat to Bayern Munich, though a 2-1 loss, will have offered a useful gauge of what facing elite opposition demands and should stand them in good stead for the level of intensity this game in Salzburg will require.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of good
Adjective
  • For families Apart from the family-sized villa estates and kid-friendly menus, Nihi has a host of activities that will please even the youngest beach bums.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Mbeumo led the line against Leeds for the third consecutive friendly, flanked by Amad to his right and Patrick Dorgu to his left, and has stood out.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of friendly

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helpers
helpful
helpfully
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Cite this Entry

“Helpful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helpful. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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