supportive
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supportive
Providing help, support, or encouragement; having a positive and helpful effect on someone or something.
Sie hat eine sehr unterstützende Familie, die immer für sie da ist.
She has a very supportive family that is always there for her.
'Unterstützend' (supportive/supporting) is the present participle of the verb 'unterstützen' (to support). It is used like an adjective to describe a quality or an action that is currently taking place.
Er hat mir mit einer unterstützenden Geste geholfen.
He helped me with a supportive gesture.
The word can stand before a noun as an adjective or describe a verb as an adverb. As an adverb, it describes the manner of an action.
Ein unterstützendes Gespräch kann in schwierigen Zeiten viel bewirken.
A supportive conversation can make a big difference in difficult times.
In the sense of 'Beistand leisten' (to provide support), 'unterstützend' (supportive) is often connected with actions or communication. Typical phrases are 'unterstützende Worte' (supportive words), 'unterstützend wirken' (to have a supportive effect), or 'jemandem unterstützend zur Seite stehen' (to support someone / stand by someone supportively).
Ihre unterstützenden Worte haben mir Mut gemacht.
Her supportive words encouraged me.
helpful
'hilfreich' and 'unterstützend' can both say that something or someone helps. 'hilfreich' mainly describes usefulness: something makes a task easier or solves a problem. 'unterstützend' places more emphasis on the help itself, often through support, encouragement, or accompaniment. For a good tip, you usually say 'hilfreich'. For a person, measure, or attitude that gives someone backing, 'unterstützend' often fits better.
Nach dem schwierigen Gespräch blieb meine Freundin unterstützend an meiner Seite.
After the difficult conversation, my friend stayed supportively by my side.
Die genaue Anleitung war sehr hilfreich, als ich das Gerät eingerichtet habe.
The detailed instructions were very helpful when I set up the device.