practical

adjective

ˈprak-ti-kəl How to pronounce practical (audio)
Definition of practicalnext
1
as in useful
capable of being put to use or account a practical and simple solution for the town's waste disposal she has some practical information on sightseeing in San Francisco

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pragmatic
willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly a practical caseworker who doesn't spend a lot of time philosophizing while doing social work in the inner city

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 practical The practical takeaway — start with the three cheapest changes (plants, lighting, pillows), then move to rugs, curtains and slipcovers. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The latest Nordic wellness trend, however, has rather practical origins. — Lola Akinmade, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026 The monster and its world also provide an opportunity to demonstrate the practical ingenuity behind Aardman’s films. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 Traditionally, personalized therapies have not been practical as medical treatment because of their high cost and long timeline to develop. — Alice Park, Time, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for practical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practical
  1. useful
  2. pragmatic
  3. applicable
  4. realistic
  5. applied
Adjective
  • But the technology is also useful for national security, and those applications don’t require the same level of power-generating fusion success that the electrical grid does.
    — Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • While titles can be a useful metric, there seems to be an epidemic of women being promoted to partner without real power.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of useful
Adjective
  • Start with the community With a pragmatic and fair approach, data center infrastructure can operate from a combination of baseload fuels, battery storage, and renewables, while prioritizing community needs and impacts.
    — Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • These are typically gift boxes of coffee or tea, or elegant but pragmatic items, such as high-quality towels or soaps, sent within a few weeks of the funeral.
    — Mimi Hanaoka, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of pragmatic
Adjective
  • Florida law imposes limits on direct contributions to state candidates but generally allows political committees to accept unlimited contributions, subject to applicable reporting and other legal requirements.
    — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The vaccine may also usher in a new wave of treatments for other types of cancer, though experts are debating how broadly applicable the technology could be.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of applicable
Adjective
  • The latest 104-qubit simulation, however, accounts for realistic hardware noise, allowing researchers to examine how errors affect magic state cultivation.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Washington should work with allies’ defense industries and military planners to come up with a new division of labor, set force levels, and create a realistic timetable to meet their goals.
    — Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of realistic
Adjective
  • Honorable rebels take a stand, work, and sacrifice, even against self-interest to bravely bring about something other than the chaos that naturally exists without applied effort to create something good.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • These measurements are then used by the motion-control system to adjust the arm’s position and applied forces.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of applied

Phrases Containing practical

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practicable
practical
practicality
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Cite this Entry

“Practical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practical. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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