helpful

[help-fuhl] / ˈhɛlp fəl /

ADJECTIVE

beneficial, beneficent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accessible advantageous applicable conducive constructive convenient cooperative crucial essential favorable friendly important invaluable practical productive profitable significant suitable supportive sympathetic timely useful valuable

WEAK

accommodating benevolent bettering caring considerate contributive effectual efficacious fortunate good for improving instrumental kind neighborly operative pragmatic serendipitous serviceable symbiotic usable utilitarian

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cold cool disagreeable hindering hurting inappropriate inessential injurious inopportune insignificant minor nonessential trivial unfavorable unfriendly unhelpful unimportant unsociable unsuitable useless worthless

WEAK

disadvantageous harmful hurtful unconstructive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

What is most helpful to sustaining those expansionary periods now and in the future?

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

"We have had people message us and say to us on the day as well what a difference it has made and how helpful they have found it," she added.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Chromosomal inversions do more than preserve helpful traits.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

But one of California’s leading political savants, Paul Mitchell, has developed a helpful online tool to suss out the possibilities.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

“I believe him. In fact, I believe he could be the most helpful person in Sassafras Springs. The loom told me so.”

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

helpful

Example Sentences

Related Words