usefulness

noun

use·​ful·​ness ˈyüs-fəl-nəs How to pronounce usefulness (audio)
Synonyms of usefulnessnext
: the quality of having utility and especially practical worth or applicability

Synonyms of usefulness

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Examples of usefulness in a Sentence

the well-known usefulness of thick phone books as seat boosters for short diners
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The AfD’s success shows the mounting tensions within Germany over whether that identity endures at the core of the new German state or has now outlived its usefulness. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Sep. 2026 The achievement represents a step forward in the usefulness of hydrogen mapping. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026 But, as jurors learned, the confusion surrounding the existence of the proffer and the usefulness of an interview led to the decision not to prosecute at the time. — John L. Smith, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026 The unit of value becomes the workflow, because an agent's usefulness comes from executing multistep processes across systems. — Emily Lewis-Pinnell, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for usefulness

Word History

First Known Use

1618, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of usefulness was in 1618

Phrases Containing usefulness

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usefully
usefulness
use inheritance
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Cite this Entry

“Usefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usefulness. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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