2,3,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzamide is primarily used as an intermediate in the synthesis of selective herbicides for controlling broadleaf weeds and grasses in crops such as cotton, soybeans, and corn. The derived herbicides are effective in pre-emergent applications, applied before weed seedlings emerge to disrupt early growth by inhibiting photosynthesis and cell division in susceptible plants. Its chlorinated structure imparts soil persistence, enabling extended weed control but raising concerns over environmental accumulation. It is also utilized in research to study degradation pathways of chlorinated aromatic compounds.