hearty

1 of 2

adjective

ˈhär-tē 

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 rogue.

—Ross 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

Synonyms of hearty

Adjective

• fervent
• enthusiastic
• passionate
• ardent
• wholehearted
• genuine
• whole-souled
• lively
• warm

Noun

• sailor
• mariner
• navigator

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

My hearty pumpkin soup, served with a basket of delicious fresh bread, was the perfect start to the meal. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 5 Nov. 2026

The menu leans into crowd-pleasing seafood and vegetable-forward dishes, but pastas and hearty mains like a pork belly with roasted new potato and pane carasau cannot be missed. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026

And for those still wanting more of the functional benefits of a boot, an even heartier version of the shoe has come just in time to prepare for winter. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2026

My dinner began with crisp pork and apple croquettes—delivering all the hearty comfort of a Sunday roast in just a few sweet-and-savory bites—followed by silky slivers of Scottish salmon, cured in-house, of course. — Liam Hess, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

1835, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hearty

• hearty appetite
• hearty eater
• hearty eaters

Rhymes for hearty

• arty
• carty
• parti
• party
• astarte
• mccarty
• nonparty
• counterparty
• multiparty

Kids Definition

hearty

1 of 2 adjective

ˈhärt-ē 

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