as in usefulness
the capacity for being useful for some purpose
the store specializes in gee-whiz gadgetry of dubious utility
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in other
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 utility
Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Mar. 2026
Normally that would lure us into safe havens, like bonds, consumer staples and utilities.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2025
With exhibition games set to begin on Saturday, Peraza and Cabrera are the current favorites to fill infield utility and super-utility roles.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for utility
Noun
Our expert praised it and called out its amazing balancing performance and utility in her review.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Mar. 2026
Normally that would lure us into safe havens, like bonds, consumer staples and utilities.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The gas company suits accuse Gillett, among other things, of an anti-utility bias.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2025
With exhibition games set to begin on Saturday, Peraza and Cabrera are the current favorites to fill infield utility and super-utility roles.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for utility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for utility
Noun
-
An Iraqi official, however, cautioned that the usefulness of the exemption will depend on whether shipping companies are willing to risk entering the strait to collect cargoes.—
Patrick Sykes,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Features like heart rate sensing and hearing assistance add a layer of everyday usefulness, and the seamless Bluetooth pairing keeps things simple across devices.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sure, a lot of other stuff has to go right for the Royals to return to contention, including keeping their pitching staff healthy and progress by Caglianone and fellow promising rookie Carter Jensen.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Crews set fire to trees, grease and various other objects to try out the capabilities.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Apr. 2026
-
There was no overarching policy, no time limits for its use in the classroom, and the safety controls were leaky.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Lee Clay Johnson’s Bloodline and Carl Hiaasen’s Fever Beach answer that question in different, equally impressive ways.—
Francine Prose,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Lemon said that might no longer be a dealbreaker for some candidates, but feels that as a Black man, he’d be held to a different standard.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On the opposite side is the High Commissioner’s thoughtful, compassionate secretary, Thomas Hopkins (Billy Howle), who is sympathetic to the Palestinians’ plight and tries to advise them at every step, to little avail.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The child appeared to struggle communicating with his sibling and mother, while his brother repeatedly tried to give directions to him in Spanish with little avail.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
With French support all but evaporated, organizers scramble for alternative sources.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The alternative punishment is life in prison without parole.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 31,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Eventually, Pearlene collapsed and died inside a makeshift bathroom in the family’s trailer, which had no running water or electricity.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Further inspection found a Mexican citizen scrunched into a makeshift, dry compartment in the gas tank that February day.—
Jim Radcliffe,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Gordon has missed 44 games this season with separate hamstring injuries.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Bathrooms have separate showers and tubs, and ultra-fluffy robes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Utility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/utility. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
