hale 1 of 2

hale

2 of 2

verb

as in to haul
to cause to follow by applying steady force on the fishermen haled the huge net onto the deck of the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hale distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of hale are healthy, robust, sound, well, and wholesome. While all these words mean "enjoying or indicative of good health," hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

still hale at the age of eighty

When can healthy be used instead of hale?

Although the words healthy and hale have much in common, healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease.

a healthy family

In what contexts can robust take the place of hale?

The words robust and hale can be used in similar contexts, but robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

a lively, robust little boy

When is sound a more appropriate choice than hale?

While the synonyms sound and hale are close in meaning, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

a sound heart

When is it sensible to use well instead of hale?

While in some cases nearly identical to hale, well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

she has never been a well person

When could wholesome be used to replace hale?

In some situations, the words wholesome and hale are roughly equivalent. However, wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance.

a face with a wholesome glow

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hale
Adjective
The Chamber of Commerce dream demographic for new Angelenos was hale, white, middle- and yeoman-class Americans. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 At a hale 77, Diana Beresford-Kroeger is a medical biochemist, botanist, organic chemist, poet, author and developer of artificial blood. New York Times, 24 Feb. 2022
Verb
Haley, among others, haled the fact that budget cutting efforts took some $285 million, or roughly 5 percent, out of the U.N.’s budget last December. George Russell, Fox News, 16 May 2018 China Money Network Crypto crackdown China, home to the world’s biggest community of Bitcoin miners, is cracking down on cryptocurrency activity, haling trade of virtual currencies on domestic exchanges and banning initial currency offerings. Clay Chandler, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2018 See All Example Sentences for hale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hale
Adjective
  • While pineapple can be part of a healthy diet, its natural sugar content may concern people with diabetes.
    Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 9 May 2025
  • This strategy does not entail players deliberately losing on the basketball court, but rather teams depleting their rosters and resting players who are healthy enough to compete.
    Mark LaSota, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • They are not designed to haul lumber or other types of recreational equipment and may not be secure enough.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
  • Equally impressive were the things people couldn’t see, like the large basement spaces where animal acts would await their turn—complete with an elevator stout enough to haul elephants.
    Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Crockpots are still made well, as are, in my experience anyway, the more modernized version: Instant Pots.
    Parker Hall, WIRED, 2 Feb. 2025
  • The witch’s magic is still MIA, but her attitude is well and truly back.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 19 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.
    Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
  • The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.
    Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 10 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • Visit the Katy Heritage Museum to see artifacts from those eras and read about the town’s robust history since its settling in the late 1800s.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 9 May 2025
  • After a robust 2024, the sector is set for even stronger growth this year, with revenues projected to increase by double digits.
    Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Andre needs some help The Brazil international midfielder dragged himself from the field near the end on Saturday, with Pereira later allaying any fears about an injury.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 12 May 2025
  • Gunther dragged Cole into the ring and pushed him around and out of the ring.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • Keep in Mind This model is most suitable for big plots of land and requires a vehicle to tow it.
    Kate Puhala, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
  • Bottom trawlers are filmed towing nets with a heavy chain along the seafloor, indiscriminately catching creatures in their path and churning up dense clouds of carbon-rich sediment.
    Nell Lewis, CNN Money, 8 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hale. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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