hearty

1 of 2

adjective

heartier; heartiest
1
a
: giving unqualified support
a hearty endorsement
b
: enthusiastically or exuberantly cordial : jovial
had a bluff and hearty bearing, but he was a rogueRoss Annett
c
: expressed unrestrainedly
a hearty welcome
exchanged hearty handshakes
2
a
: exhibiting vigorous good health
hearty young men and women
b(1)
: having a good appetite
a hearty eater
(2)
: abundant, rich, or flavorful enough to satisfy the appetite
hearty vegetable soup
3
: vigorous, vehement
a hearty pull
heartiness noun

hearty

2 of 2

noun

plural hearties
: a hearty fellow
also : sailor
the albatross mocked by the hearties Stephen Spender
Choose the Right Synonym for hearty

sincere, wholehearted, heartfelt, hearty, unfeigned mean genuine in feeling.

sincere stresses absence of hypocrisy, feigning, or any falsifying embellishment or exaggeration.

a sincere apology

wholehearted suggests sincerity and earnest devotion without reservation or misgiving.

promised our wholehearted support

heartfelt suggests depth of genuine feeling outwardly expressed.

expresses our heartfelt gratitude

hearty suggests honesty, warmth, and exuberance in displaying feeling.

received a hearty welcome

unfeigned stresses spontaneity and absence of pretense.

her unfeigned delight at receiving the award

Examples of hearty in a Sentence

Adjective He gave us all a hearty welcome. hearty young men and women His grandmother remains hale and hearty in her old age. Noun gather round me hearties, and I'll tell you a sea tale that'll shiver your timbers for sure
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The menu changes weekly, the portions are hearty and the flavors soulful, and the entrees tend to follow the family-table formula of protein, vegetable and starch. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 Fish, potato and egg are combined into a hearty, comforting meal, particularly appropriate for cooler weather. Christian Mysliwiec, Fox News, 5 Mar. 2024 The new dishes feature new salad dressings, meats and cheeses, spice blends and hearty grains, and also promise more meat per bite. Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Get ready to add a hearty dose of Southern charm to your home. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 But this species, which was adapted to burrow, fed on hearty and abundant underground resources, and was smaller than many dinosaur species, still died out with the Age of Dinosaurs. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 There are tons of other ways to make your oatmeal more interesting and fiber-full, including mixing in some hearty veggies, sprinkling on some nuts, or topping with frozen berries. Audrey Bruno, SELF, 21 Feb. 2024 Whether savoring hearty curries or gourmet sausages, guests like me are invited to relish in the charm of this sophisticated iconic establishment. Kissa Castañeda, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 But until then, French is letting his fans eat off a hearty helping of Mac & Cheese. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
In this hearty, colorful salad, cauliflower florets, slivers of red onion and briny capers are coated with spices and roasted until the florets turn soft and sweet, and the onions and capers get browned and crisp. Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 David’s response: an eruption of hearty, jaw-trembling laughter. M.d. Rodrigues, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024 My hunger – who knew mindful thought burned so many calories? – didn’t abate until after a hearty, if slightly cardboard-tasting, vegan burrito at Farmer and the Cook, the city’s best healthy-dining option. Sam McManis, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 What To Serve with Ham-and-Bean Soup Filling and hearty, this soup doesn't need much to make a satisfying meal. Paige Grandjean, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2023 Tomato sauce: Adds a hearty, tomato flavor to the meatloaf. Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2023 The area around L’Aquila, at the foot of the mountainous Gran Sasso National Park, was known for hearty, energy-spiking cuisine — including that nougat. Julia Buckley, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2023 Combs’ hearty, raspy vocal is nicely paired with Worsham’s relaxed, euphonious singing. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 21 Aug. 2023 Given the focus on reds, the menu reads hearty: there are several cuts of steak served with roasted or mashed potatoes. Shana Clarke, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hearty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hearty was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near hearty

Cite this Entry

“Hearty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hearty. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hearty

1 of 2 adjective
heartier; heartiest
1
a
: wholehearted, sincere
hearty agreement
b
: enthusiastically friendly
a hearty welcome
c
: unrestrained sense 2
hearty laughter
2
a
: exhibiting very good health
hale and hearty
b
: having a good appetite
a hearty eater
c
: being plentiful and satisfying
a hearty meal
3
: energetic, vigorous
gave a hearty pull
heartiness noun

hearty

2 of 2 noun
plural hearties
: comrade
also : sailor

More from Merriam-Webster on hearty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!