USE Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'use' contrast with its synonyms?

The words employ and utilize are common synonyms of use . While all three words mean "to put into service especially to attain an end," use implies availing oneself of something as a means or instrument to an end. // willing to use any means to achieve her ends

Q: Where would 'employ' be a reasonable alternative to 'use'?

Although the words employ and use have much in common, employ suggests the use of a person or thing that is available but idle, inactive, or disengaged. // looking for better ways to employ their skills

Q: When is it sensible to use 'utilize' instead of 'use'?

While in some cases nearly identical to use , utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something. // an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

use 1 of 2

verb

ˈyüz

Definition of use

as in to utilize

to put into action or service I will need to use the large hammer for this project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to treat

to behave toward in a stated way the factory workers were underpaid and poorly used by their employers

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to exploit

to take unfair advantage of I was paying for everything on our little outing, and I was starting to feel like I was being used

Synonyms & Similar Words

use

2 of 2

noun

ˈyüs

as in application

the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the use of boom boxes is strictly prohibited in the park

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in usefulness

the capacity for being useful for some purpose the broken grill isn't going to be of much use in cooking the hamburgers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in liking

positive regard for something I have no use for slackers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb use contrast with its synonyms?

The words employ and utilize are common synonyms of use. While all three words mean "to put into service especially to attain an end," use implies availing oneself of something as a means or instrument to an end.

willing to use any means to achieve her ends

Where would employ be a reasonable alternative to use?

Although the words employ and use have much in common, employ suggests the use of a person or thing that is available but idle, inactive, or disengaged.

looking for better ways to employ their skills

When is it sensible to use utilize instead of use?

While in some cases nearly identical to use, utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something.

an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

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 use

Verb

In a small farm context, that will be to a grouping of farmers that form a producer unit using the same practices in the same climate. — Sj Studio, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 Supermarkets typically use central control panels to manage multiple refrigeration units. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 13 Oct. 2026

Noun

Under the deal, Disney was to have licensed a number of its characters for use on Sora and also invest $1 billion in OpenAI, which is looking to go public soon at a valuation possibly exceeding $1 trillion. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 In the years following his departure from Drag Race, Piane spoke publicly about his struggles with substance use and mental health. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for use

Recent Examples of Synonyms for use

Verb

There is also an elevator, although it’s best utilized as a dumbwaiter for luggage and is not recommended for guest use.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Batters have been more successful on robot umpire challenges in the playoffs than during the regular season, and teams are utilizing the Automated Ball-Strike System more overall in its postseason debut.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of utilize

Verb

Rather than relying solely on conventional T cells, future treatments may be able to exploit gamma delta T cells to expose a vulnerability in a cancer that has proved exceptionally difficult to treat.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
The hospital in question denied that Talarico had ever been treated there.

— Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of treat

Verb

Now, in yet another blow to national self-esteem, the ex-head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, has been arrested on charges of exploiting state secrets.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
Major cringe, on the other hand, navigates the aesthetic affect critically and formally to induce it—viscerally exploiting its possibilities.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of exploit

Noun

That includes procurement sources, manufacturing readiness, technology maturity and application requirements.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
That law made refugee applications some of the most rigorously scrutinized within the immigration system.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of application

Noun

Such applications could make skin markings easier to conceal while preserving their usefulness when needed.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Almeida saw a gap between models’ ability to answer people’s questions and their usefulness in automating routine work.

— Wen Shao, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of usefulness

Noun

This flamboyantly ambitious novel, which takes place in a version of Atlanta known as Atlantis, follows the life of George Washington Jonson, a Black cop with a liking for white women.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Democrats must decide whether to take the deal in front of them or, possibly with a congressional majority next year, craft a version more to their liking that may be met with staunch GOP opposition and, thus, gridlock purgatory yet again.

— Jordan Blum, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of liking

Verb

The approach applies manufacturing practices to research and development, allowing engineers and machinists to modify components and processes quickly as designs evolve.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Al Hassan wants renewal to happen automatically without needing to apply.

— Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of apply

Verb

Tippett’s team animated physical puppets, while ILM handled compositing and digital fire, smoke and explosions.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Needless to say, the system has to be robust enough to handle battlefield conditions, including electronic warfare and communications blackouts.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of handle

Browse Nearby Words

usages

use

used

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Use.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/use. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of use

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Is 'utilize' a word worth using?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on use

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of use

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Phrases Containing use

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to use

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Is 'utilize' a word worth using?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on use

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes