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

Adjective

• wholehearted
• whole-souled

Noun

• gob
• jack
• jack-tar
• mariner
• navigator
• sailor
• salt
• sea dog
• seafarer
• seaman
• shipman
• swab
• swabbie [slang]
• swabby
• tar

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

Bite into a gyro or falafel wrap, or dig into something more hearty like the Mixed Grill with shish kebab, chicken kebab, lamb gyro, chicken gyro and Inegol kofte. —Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 1 May 2025

This Quinoa-Bean Salad With Lots of Dill has made for hearty desk-side lunches, and this Creamy Coconutty Shrimp Salad has been the star of many a dinner party. —Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2025

Noun

Deep and smoky, and hearty without being heavy. —Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025

There are plenty of hiking opportunities and, for the hearty, for some wild swimming. —Everett Potter, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

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