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 The Lakers are healthy and looking to establish a new identity. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Prebiotics are what feed the healthy bacteria already living in your gut. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 Yet another example of the incredible systems that keep living creatures healthy. — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 20 Oct. 2026 In addition to the tariff refund, the strong gross margin development was driven by healthy full-price sales, while unfavorable currency developments had a negative impact. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for healthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for healthy
Adjective
  • Rest assured, all is well with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl ring.
    — Andrew Destin, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Her roommates, in their graying union suits, seemed happy enough with well water.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • SpaceX shares jumped nearly 8% on Wednesday, their best single-session performance since August.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The two musicians are so good at aping the sounds they were raised on that originality and reference become one and the same.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Conventional early-warning aircraft have space for substantial radar arrays and powerful onboard systems, but their size and cost can limit how many can be deployed.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • With builds ranging up to $6,000, the new ROG Strix Scar 18 will make a substantial dent in your bank account.
    — Marshall Honorof, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Salem is a vibrant, thriving, bustling city, attracting throngs of tourists in the autumn.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Lump recommends people explore the thriving creative communities in the towns en route, such as Mendocino and Laguna Beach.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The most robust evidence in the field is a study published in JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery in 2024, which looked at airflow during mouth occlusion in more than 50 patients.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But Hayden said the Shuckers Union will have a pretty robust sparkling wine menu — one that isn’t just prosecco or just champagne, but the fun sparkling wines found around the world that usually fall in the middle of those two wines’ price points.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • This is not a medical spa and therefore there is no nutrition concept, but healthful snacks like fruit grown on property and nuts are available in the changing spaces, hydrotherapy zone and the relaxation rooms.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
  • As more people choose to stay in their homes longer, homeowners are looking for ways to create spaces that support and enhance healthful living with longevity in mind.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Zygielbaum was surprised however that the DOJ reached out only to him, and not the Republican clerk in neighboring Weld County, which also houses a sizable portion of that same congressional district.
    — Miles Parks, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But current attempts to drive home that message are being rejected by a sizable and growing part of the population.
    — Nicholas Florko, STAT, 21 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The construction is transforming what was once a coastal defense zone into one of China’s most prosperous regions.
    — Ningrong Liu, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In Namibia, the stakes are high, but so is the promise of a more prosperous, wild future.
    — Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Healthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/healthy. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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