Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

healthful

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of healthful

beneficial to the health of body or mind

  • one of the most healthful forms of exercise is a brisk walk
Synonyms of healthful

good, healthy, medicinal, restorative, salubrious, salutary, salutiferous, sanative, tonic, wholesome
Words Related to healthful

alleviative, corrective, curative, recuperative, refreshing, rehabilitative, rejuvenating, rejuvenescent, remedial

advantageous, useful

antiseptic, aseptic, clean, hygienic, sanitary

nourishing, nutritional, nutritious

nonpoisonous, nontoxic
Near Antonyms of healthful

damaging, deleterious, harmful, injurious, pernicious

infectious, poisonous, sickening, toxic

insanitary, unhygienic, unsanitary
Antonyms of healthful

insalubrious, noxious, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome

Synonym Discussion of healthful

healthful, wholesome, salubrious, salutary mean favorable to the health of mind or body. healthful implies a positive contribution to a healthy condition.
    • a healthful diet
wholesome applies to what benefits, builds up, or sustains physically, mentally, or spiritually.
    • wholesome foods
    • the movie is wholesome family entertainment
salubrious applies chiefly to the helpful effects of climate or air.
    • cool and salubrious weather
salutary describes something corrective or beneficially effective, even though it may in itself be unpleasant.
    • a salutary warning that resulted in increased production

Learn More about healthful

  1. Dictionary: Definition of healthful Medical Dictionary: Definition of healthful Spanish Central: Translation of healthful Nglish: Translation of healthful for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up healthful? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games