Definition of healthynext
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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 healthy Local peaches are generally better suited to your specific climate and growing conditions, which significantly increases the likelihood of successfully cultivating a healthy tree. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026 These influencers claim colostrum can decrease inflammation, improve gut health, decrease one’s risk of infections and promote healthier hair, skin and nails. Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026 Provide watering and pest control to your grass to keep it healthy. David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 6 June 2026 The reorganization would result in the public receiving less information about how to keep national forests healthy, protect communities from wildfires, and preserve green spaces in cities for people to enjoy, agency scientists said. Chiara Eisner, NPR, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for healthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for healthy
Adjective
  • The detox helps remove build up from well water or any kind of minerals.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
  • Get well Dodger friend and may God bless you and your family.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • But on the other hand the club also needed power, and even in a best case scenario Durbin never projected as someone who’d move the needle much in that area.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
  • Then obviously, the Colorado Eagles and the Colorado Avalanche — just two really good teams.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • Although both technologies have generated headlines, attracted billions in investment, and prompted debates around consumer protection and national security, the federal government’s approach to oversight of these innovations has diverged in a substantial way.
    Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
  • That is, unless the homeowner has substantial savings.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • My nervous system, apparently, was not exactly thriving.
    Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 7 June 2026
  • Is every city neighborhood as safe and thriving as ours?
    Peter Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • Last week's sell-off was triggered on Wednesday by idling – though robust – revenue projections from chipmaker Broadcom and may have been exacerbated by a call from artificial intelligence startup Anthropic for the sector to slow down its pace of advancements .
    Tobias Burns, CNBC, 9 June 2026
  • This robust kit includes deliciously crunchy Kennebec potato chips, furikake snack mix, Bob’s Dilly Peanuts and Jalapeño Peanuts, plus a selection of cookies, chocolates and candies.
    Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • Potatoes are generally considered a more healthful option than rice due to their lower calorie content and higher fiber, iron, potassium, and vitamin B6 content.
    Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 9 June 2026
  • Trump’s order adds weight behind the study at a time when the administration had appeared to be trying to shift focus away from Kennedy’s more contentious vaccine policies and toward topics with more widespread support among medical professionals, such as healthful eating.
    Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • The group is unpopular among many in the country’s sizeable Christian minority.
    Mick Krever, CNN Money, 6 June 2026
  • Upstairs, the primary suite is a sizable offering with its own balcony and sitting room.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 4 June 2026
Adjective
  • In a country as prosperous as Switzerland, one could be forgiven for asking, Enough of what?
    Jessi Jezewska Stevens, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
  • In the long run, the best-case scenario is that these companies are financial successes and make many of us prosperous in turn.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Healthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/healthy. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

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