HEALTHINESSES Synonyms: 286 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'healthy' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of healthy are hale , robust , sound , well , and wholesome . While all these words mean "enjoying or indicative of good health," healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease. // a healthy family

Q: Where would 'hale' be a reasonable alternative to 'healthy'?

While in some cases nearly identical to healthy , hale applies particularly to robustness in old age. // still hale at the age of eighty

Q: When is 'robust' a more appropriate choice than 'healthy'?

While the synonyms robust and healthy are close in meaning, robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly. // a lively, robust little boy

Q: When might 'sound' be a better fit than 'healthy'?

Although the words sound and healthy have much in common, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction. // a sound heart

Q: When would 'well' be a good substitute for 'healthy'?

The words well and healthy can be used in similar contexts, but well implies merely freedom from disease or illness. // she has never been a well person

Q: In what contexts can 'wholesome' take the place of 'healthy'?

The meanings of wholesome and healthy largely overlap; however, wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance. // a face with a wholesome glow

healthiness 1 of 2

noun

Definition of healthiness

as in health

the condition of being sound in body healthy teeth are an indication of a horse's overall healthiness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

healthy

2 of 2

adjective

ˈhel-thē

as in well

enjoying health and vigor always a hard worker, Grandma has remained healthy into her 80s

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in good

beneficial to the health of body or mind the air in here isn't healthy ads that promote healthy eating habits

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as in substantial

sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention a healthy turnout of volunteers to plant trees on Arbor Day

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as in thriving

marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically coming out of a prolonged recession, the restaurant business seemed to be healthy again

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word healthy distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of healthy are hale, robust, sound, well, and wholesome. While all these words mean "enjoying or indicative of good health," healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease.

a healthy family

Where would hale be a reasonable alternative to healthy?

While in some cases nearly identical to healthy, hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

still hale at the age of eighty

When is robust a more appropriate choice than healthy?

While the synonyms robust and healthy are close in meaning, robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

a lively, robust little boy

When might sound be a better fit than healthy?

Although the words sound and healthy have much in common, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

a sound heart

When would well be a good substitute for healthy?

The words well and healthy can be used in similar contexts, but well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

she has never been a well person

In what contexts can wholesome take the place of healthy?

The meanings of wholesome and healthy largely overlap; 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 healthiness

Noun

Unfortunately, Americans have proved themselves to be suckers for packaging that conveys a food’s healthiness, Bragg said. — Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 23 Aug. 2025

Adjective

And that's because this offense, now led by OC Mike McDaniel, is loaded with QB Justin Herbert, an explosive running back room, and hopefully a healthy offensive line. — Austin Mock, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Since the show will also focus on her blended family, there’s a healthy dose of Kardashian-esque drama. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for healthiness

Recent Examples of Synonyms for healthiness

Noun

Perhaps better health and shorter assignments will help Cabrera harness his high-end velocity and create greater separation between his fastball and a unique changeup.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
The quake injured at least 213 people and caused widespread destruction across the island, damaging 122 health facilities, 252 schools and 84 places of worship, the agency said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of health

Noun

Along with, it should be said, a timely offer from Leicester in the summer of 2024 to train with the then top-flight club to keep his fitness up.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Thinking about investing in a recovery device, new nutrition product or fitness watch?

— Adam Annaccone, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of fitness

Noun

DePaul University’s former associate athletics director for health and wellness has filed a federal lawsuit against the school and AD DeWayne Peevy, alleging she was illegally laid off while seven months pregnant in violation of her civil rights.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026
The transparency of the scientific process mixed with the urgency of the crisis created a vacuum of confidence that wellness influencers have eagerly filled.

— T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of wellness

Noun

Emma’s resistance to the bland wholesomeness of recovery spaces speaks to a familiar cultural trope across media, in films and television shows; that sobriety is where flamboyance goes to die.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
But after seven episodes wearing down the viewer with a bleak perspective, in the season finale, Euphoria pulls itself out of its own somber patterns to reach for grace and mercy in Christian symbolism, American wholesomeness, and the concept of family.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 June 2026

Definition of wholesomeness

Noun

This project might strike you as dystopian and disturbing, or exciting and encouraging – and its ethical soundness comes down to a few key factors, several experts told CNN.

— Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Some states require private schools participating in voucher programs to demonstrate some form of financial soundness.

— Mollie Simon, ProPublica, 16 July 2026

Definition of soundness

Noun

Highlighting the strength of the two countries’ ties, Russian state media has shown images of North Korean troops in training inside Russia over the past year, and Kim Jong Un opened a memorial to North Korea’s Ukraine dead in April.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Communities still recovering from last weekend’s hurricane in Hawaii could get pounded again in coming days from another tropical system gaining strength over warm Pacific waters.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of strength

Noun

The third is to develop novel variations of your stimuli or your benchmark items in order to test robustness and generalization.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026
Gamuda is also the only Malaysian company in its sector with targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), reinforcing the robustness of its emissions data and methodology.

— Gamuda Contributor, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of robustness

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health spa

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“Healthiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/healthiness. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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adjective

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