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as in to benefit
to provide with something useful or desirable being independently wealthy certainly helped him during his years as a struggling young artist

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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help

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word help distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of help are ameliorate, better, and improve. While all these words mean "to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard," help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.

a coat of paint would help that house

In what contexts can ameliorate take the place of help?

Although the words ameliorate and help have much in common, ameliorate implies making more tolerable or acceptable conditions that are hard to endure.

tried to ameliorate the lives of people in the tenements

How do improve and better relate to one another, in the sense of help?

Both improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad.

measures to further improve the quality of medical care
immigrants hoping to better their lot

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 help
Verb
Bowlan, who was a second-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, will need to do his part in helping the team make a late run. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025 Turn into the skid - Turning into the skid can help the vehicle's tires realign to regain control. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Vibe coding is gaining traction as a way for developers to move quickly, experiment freely and spark new ideas with the help of generative AI. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 If the aforementioned tips don't work, consider asking an expert for help. Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for help
Recent Examples of Synonyms for help
Verb
  • In the 34th minute, Toklomati scored from the center of the box, assisted by Kerwin Vargas and Ashley Westwood.
    Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 14 Sep. 2025
  • While police are prohibited by law from assisting in immigration enforcement, officers have in the past been called to guarantee the safety of the public and agents.
    Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That program has not alleviated concerns over postproduction deductions and, as of August, had not resolved any cases about that issue, the news organizations found.
    Jacob Orledge, ProPublica, 15 Sep. 2025
  • There are privacy enhancing technologies that would alleviate this concern.
    Vipin Bharathan, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Riley Gaines has lobbied for bills in several states that would prevent biological males who identify as women from competing in women’s sports.
    David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Your feet are sandwiched between pillowy soles and a breathable mesh upper that keeps the air flowing to prevent sweating and blisters.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Google, of course, insists the AI Overviews arrangement benefits everyone.
    Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The Eagles benefitted from short fields, covering 52 yards on their first touchdown drive after Harrison Butker missed a field-goal attempt, and 59 on their next, after a Patrick Mahomes interception and face-mask penalty pushed them quickly into KC territory.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Canales’ first year came with little-to-no expectations, and the team improved three games from rock bottom (2-15 in 2023).
    Mike Kaye September 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The series builds on The Star's efforts to improve coverage of local communities.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Polish and Dutch jets intercepted the drones, with assistance from Italian, German and NATO’s multinational forces, officials said.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
  • In EVs, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and real-time vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication depend on synchronized timekeeping for everything from sensor fusion to powertrain management.
    Markus Lutz, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Boomsma said any traits the ants have evolved are adaptations driven by natural selection, and creating fitter hybrid workers provided a competitive advantage, allowing Iberian harvester ants to extend their range vastly.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The Wave now hold a 6-2-1 advantage in the all-time regular season series.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Flip Putthoff is a staff photographer and outdoors reporter.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The staff will even provide recommendations on what to do along the 29-mile route.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Help.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/help. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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