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

Try the picanha or one of the signature bowls, which feature grilled and smoked meats and a hearty helping of fresh fixings. —Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 10 Nov. 2025

For a bite to eat, locals frequent Schooner’s of Morton for hearty American fare or Aunt Ginny’s Café for a good cup of coffee. —Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025

Noun

This one-pot dish gets its name for coming together in just half an hour—perfect for a hectic weeknight or a hearty to-go lunch. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025

For a hearty, comforting main course, serve Farmer Boggis’ Chicken and Dumplings, a dish that screams rustic country cooking. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 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