hearty

1 of 3

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 3

noun (1)

plural hearties

: a hearty fellow

also : sailor

… the albatross mocked by the hearties …

—Stephen Spender

heartiness

3 of 3

noun (2)

heart·​i·​ness

|tēnə̇s, 

|tin-

plural -es

1

: cordiality or geniality of manner : cheeriness, friendliness

detested his backslapping heartiness

2

: zeal, enthusiasm

the music was sung with uninhibited heartiness by the mountain folk

—Herman Wouk

enjoy themselves … with a heartiness that makes the Londoner feel extremely envious

—S. P. B. Mais

3

: vigor, strength

an air of rugged outdoor heartiness

—J. J. Godwin

Synonyms of hearty

Adjective

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

Noun (1)

• 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 (1)

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

With its joyless austerity, the dish bears almost no resemblance to actual chicken paprikás, which is boisterous and dense and, crucially, should involve a considerable portion of hearty starches to sop it all up. —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 June 2026

Amidst all the heavy dishes that sometimes dominate summertime spreads, who doesn’t love to see a bowl of this hearty-but-healthy summer-crop bounty of beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, and spices? —Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 14 June 2026

Noun

Instead, this recipe is homemade, savory, smoky, hearty, a little bit spicy, and made with pinto beans. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 16 May 2026

And this action can periodically include scalding, raucous and party-hearty language. —Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 9 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun (1)

1835, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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