used 1 of 2

adjective

ˈyüzd How to pronounce used (audio)
Definition of usednext
as in accustomed
being in the habit or custom my grandmother has spent her whole life on the farm and is used to working hard

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

used

2 of 2

verb

past tense of use
1
as in utilized
to put into action or service I will need to use the large hammer for this project

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in treated
to behave toward in a stated way the factory workers were underpaid and poorly used by their employers

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3
as in exploited
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

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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 used
Adjective
Increases in shelter and used car costs also pushed up the core inflation figure, experts noted. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 The cost of toys, new and used cars, sporting goods and shoes all rose at a rapid clip last month, the government said. — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
The shooter used a pump-action shotgun in yesterday's shooting, two law enforcement officials briefed on the case told NBC News. — Irene Byon, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026 Bass has also used the Mayor’s Fund, a charity fund that the mayor can use to tackle issues around the city, to address homelessness and eviction protection. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for used
Recent Examples of Synonyms for used
  1. accustomed
  2. utilized
  3. treated
  4. exploited
  5. applied
  6. served
  7. abused
  8. employed
Adjective
  • Hernández said the group wanted to use the platform to bring further awareness to the struggles immigrants continue to face in this country with an audience that notably skews more American than Los Tigres is accustomed to.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Long accustomed to finishing second to Spirit in Fort Lauderdale, JetBlue now ranks first in number of passengers.
    — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of accustomed
Verb
  • At the time, the team utilized a different error-correction method called Helix to demonstrate record-setting logical memory and computation.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Atlanta's fourth-quarter comeback attempt allowed tight end Kyle Pitts to show why he should have been better utilized earlier in the game.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of utilized
Verb
  • These products have long been treated as compromises — fallbacks for pet owners or renters.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But the familiarity of the fantasy elements and the brusqueness with which they’re treated would be forgivable if Wildwood did a better job exploring how the real world connects to the magical side of the story.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of treated
Verb
  • This notorious commercial entity, a precursor of the global corporations of today and big enough to command its own army, ruthlessly exploited foreign resources, human and material.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • That signal can be aggregated, correlated, and exploited by hostile foreign intelligence services to anticipate our movements, targets, and timing.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of exploited
Verb
  • The gorgeous and tasty caramel and cream cheese frosting looks the best when applied with a small offset spatula to give it that swirly effect on the cake.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
  • While traditionally only achievable in real life through plastic surgery or extreme makeup, it can be applied instantly online using beauty filters.
    — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of applied
Verb
  • The report analyzes publicly available FBI and immigration arrest data and does not include details of whether charges were dropped or if people served any time in jail or prison.
    — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026
  • According to the charges, he was previously convicted of misdemeanor domestic battery charges in Cook County in 2024, and was sentenced to 30 days' time served.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of served
Verb
  • The act also has been sorely abused and used as a tool to stop projects, particularly housing.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In 2023, the Illinois attorney general released a detailed report that identified 451 Catholic priests and religious brothers who the investigation found had abused at least 1,997 children across the state’s six Catholic dioceses.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of abused
Verb
  • But the very reticence my father employed to protect us had hollowed out our family.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Gonska pushed back on that assertion, saying the political strategy employed by Bass during the June 2 primary was different from the activities now being conducted by Building LA in the runoff.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of employed

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use
used
used up
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Cite this Entry

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

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