Gainful vs Useful - What's the difference?
gainful | useful |
Contrary.
Disposed to taking advantage of.
Troublesome; fractious; hard to handle.
Providing gain; profitable.
Having a practical or beneficial use.
* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=
, title= '', ''useful for '' and ''useful to ''. The words ''useful to'' are also found in construction such as ''It is useful to do'', in which ''to marks an infinitive rather than being a preposition.
As adjectives the difference between gainful and useful
is that gainful is contrary or gainful can be providing gain; profitable while useful is having a practical or beneficial use.gainful
English
Alternative forms
* gainfull (archaic)Etymology 1
From .Adjective
(en adjective)Etymology 2
From .Adjective
(en adjective)- How can we find gainful employment with dignity for the uneducated?
Derived terms
* (l) * (l)useful
English
Adjective
(en adjective)Lee S. Langston, magazine=(American Scientist)
The Adaptable Gas Turbine, passage=Turbines have been around for a long time—windmills and water wheels are early examples. The name comes from the Latin turbo'', meaning ''vortex , and thus the defining property of a turbine is that a fluid or gas turns the blades of a rotor, which is attached to a shaft that can perform useful work.}}