UTILITY Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

utility 1 of 2

noun

yü-ˈti-lə-tē

Definition of utility

as in usefulness

the capacity for being useful for some purpose the store specializes in gee-whiz gadgetry of dubious utility

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

utility

2 of 2

adjective

as in other

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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

Noun

This combination—strong binding but limited activation—is central to the clinical utility of buprenorphine. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 Gardner provides water, wastewater, and electric utilities for residential and commercial properties within city limits. — Taylor O'Connor 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The Rays were also at the forefront of other innovations and/or adjustments, such as defensive shifts, lineup platoons, matchup bullpens, star-quality super-utility players and putting a numbers nerd (technically a process and analytics coach) in the dugout. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026 Heriberto Hernandez and super-utility player Javier Sanoja were the only right-handed hitters who could see steady time in the outfield. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for utility

Recent Examples of Synonyms for utility

Noun

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

Definition of usefulness

Adjective

Yes, Minteh and Sarr both operate on the right and buying one of them arguably would have provided a better balance to Iraola’s attacking department given that his other wide players prefer the left flank.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
That happened again when the five other conservatives – but not Roberts and the three liberals − said the administration could slash hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of health research funding.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of other

Noun

Before Saylor Hayes’ parents were arrested in connection with the 5-year-old girl’s death this week, the couple had been charged with child abuse and had a history of drug use, court documents show.

— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
Koeckeritz argued that a paved parking lot is an essential accessory to its main function — worship — not the principal use of the property across the street from the towering cathedral.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of use

Adjective

The system administrator should have different capabilities than a patrol officer.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
Chaparral features interchangeable cargo pods, enabling operators to adapt the aircraft for different missions without altering its core platform.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of different

Noun

For decades, Washington strove to align perceptions across theaters, to little avail.

— Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
After that, when the impossibility of recovering anyone else became clear, Al-Zaharnah and others kept hoping international organizations would convince Israel to allow more construction equipment, but to little avail.

— Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of avail

Adjective

Most of the time, people come with their pre-existing views and biases, repeat them out loud, close their minds to alternative perspectives, and go home even more sure of their ways.

— Ben Bland, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Another is by directing government funds to further diversify exports away from China to alternative markets.

— Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of alternative

Adjective

Parton died after a brief battle with cancer, with her death triggering an outpouring of grief, from fellow Hollywood stars to everyday fans who attended makeshift memorials.

— Edward Segarra, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
China builds access road for rescue crews On the Chinese side, rescue crews completed a makeshift road to the disaster site at Gyirong Port on the Nepal border, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday.

— Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of makeshift

Adjective

Trump does not appear anywhere else on the website, aside from a list of endorsements that previously appeared on the homepage but has been moved to a separate page.

— Steve Peoples, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Luiz understands that aspect, too, acknowledging that Sporting KC needed him four separate times during Thursday’s news conference.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of separate

Browse Nearby Words

utilitarian

utility

utilizable

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Cite this Entry

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“Utility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/utility. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of utility

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

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