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
  • That gunk could indicate that the river ecosystem isn’t healthy, Eichert told the Statesman, which could be due to dams upriver changing the historical flooding in the region.
    Alex Music July 8, Idaho Statesman, 8 July 2025
  • Inside an office, a doctor told Ross that the top of his ligament was healthy and strong.
    Will Sammon, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • Just think about where your luggage has been; it gets hauled through airports, goes for a ride on a conveyor belt, rolls across dusty parking lots, is stashed into overhead bins, and is often handled by multiple people with no guarantee of clean hands.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2025
  • Those were frugal, pragmatic solutions; every stone that could be reused was another one that didn’t have to be quarried, cut, hauled, and placed.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 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
  • Brewer, particularly, redefines the bullying aristocrat, played in the movie as a simpering sadist, but a more robust, complicated man onstage.
    Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025
  • This still isn’t perfect, but as AI models improve, the software that these amateur developers create will become increasingly complex and robust.
    Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • The plucky little superdog drags Superman to the Fortress of Solitude, where he is treated by a posse of robots.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
  • That’s good for everyone, even expat journalists dragging their kids along to cover a new story.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • So far, De Anda said, members of the community have worked together to identify whom the cars belong to, and to contact families to retrieve them before they are towed away.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
  • Food and supplies were replenished by other ships sailing in the area as it was towed to Mobile, Alabama.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hale. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

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