heartwarming

adjective

heart·​warm·​ing ˈhärt-ˌwȯr-miŋ 

: inspiring sympathetic feeling : cheering

It's heartwarming how their neighbors pitched in to help.

heart-warmer

ˈhärt-ˌwȯr-mər 

noun

Synonyms of heartwarming

• comforting
• encouraging
• rewarding
• fulfilling
• warm
• loving
• gratifying

Examples of heartwarming in a Sentence

The movie is a heartwarming story about a boy and his dog.

It's heartwarming to see how his neighbors have helped him.

Recent Examples on the Web

The event was a benefit for Reasons to Be Cheerful, an online magazine and newsletter founded by Byrne and dedicated chiefly to sharing heartwarming stories. —Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025

Viewers are invited into a world of holiday imagination that’s both entertaining and heartwarming. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025

Finding your tribe within the denizens of cosplayers, when that tribe is a minority group often not expected to engage in the activity, is especially heartwarming. —Nikki Birch, NPR, 31 Oct. 2025

The Chiefs' official Instagram account captured the heartwarming moment on video and shared the clip on Instagram. —Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1743, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heartwarming

• brainstorming
• conforming
• deforming
• informing
• performing
• reforming
• rewarming
• transforming
• forming
• storming
• swarming
• warming

Kids Definition

heartwarming

adjective

heart·​warm·​ing ˈhärt-ˌwȯr-miŋ 

: making one feel good inside : cheering to one's emotions