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.

"We've got quite a supportive local community around here and, as soon as the word gets out, people are helpful."

From BBC • May 16, 2026

“But actually I enjoyed that part of it. That and listening to music were both helpful in that they were almost like meditating on it without getting too in my head.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

Katchinoff’s team studied how fine the powder should be, how best to release it and the tank conditions that aid helpful microorganisms.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

The company added that Alexa for Shopping delivers a more personal, helpful shopping experience across a wide range of devices.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

“Okay,” I say, still trying to process my family being helpful and nice and everything.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Vocabulary lists containing helpful

Beowulf vocabulary

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 3

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Words to Describe a Teacher

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!