Synonyms of healthy

healthy

adjective

ˈhel-thē 

1

as in well

enjoying health and vigor

always a hard worker, Grandma has remained healthy into her 80s

Synonyms & Similar Words

• well
• robust
• strong
• whole
• sturdy
• wholesome
• hale
• fit
• thriving
• hearty
• sound
• in shape
• tough
• able-bodied
• bouncing
• well-conditioned
• active
• agile
• hardy
• good
• lively
• in the pink
• in fine fettle
• vigorous
• rugged
• prospering
• lusty
• vital
• hard
• ambulatory
• iron
• flourishing
• stalwart
• sprightly
• nondisabled
• right
• chipper
• clean-cut
• blooming
• spry
• uncrippled
• flush
• all right
• sprightful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unhealthy
• sick
• diseased
• ill
• unfit
• weak
• unsound
• feeble
• ailing
• sickly
• unwell
• disabled
• infirm
• weakened
• enfeebled
• fragile
• weakly
• decrepit
• debilitated
• sickened
• delicate
• incapacitated
• frail
• malnourished
• undernourished
• troubled
• emaciated
• gaunt
• haggard
• bad
• run-down
• differently abled
• poorly
• worn-out
• afflicted

2

as in good

beneficial to the health of body or mind

the air in here isn't healthy

ads that promote healthy eating habits

Synonyms & Similar Words

• good
• healthful
• medicinal
• wholesome
• nutritional
• salubrious
• refreshing
• restorative
• tonic
• salutary
• useful
• sanative
• clean
• salutiferous
• nutritious
• corrective
• remedial
• sanitary
• hygienic
• curative
• advantageous
• rehabilitative
• nourishing
• rejuvenating
• recuperative
• aseptic
• nontoxic
• antiseptic
• alleviative
• rejuvenescent
• nonpoisonous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unhealthy
• harmful
• unwholesome
• toxic
• injurious
• damaging
• noxious
• deleterious
• pernicious
• infectious
• unhealthful
• poisonous
• insalubrious
• sickening
• unsanitary
• insanitary
• unhygienic

3

as in substantial

sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention

a healthy turnout of volunteers to plant trees on Arbor Day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• substantial
• sizable
• significant
• considerable
• good
• respectable
• handsome
• tidy
• huge
• tremendous
• major
• great
• substantive
• big
• goodly
• massive
• largish
• biggish
• voluminous
• bulky
• hefty
• enormous
• gigantic
• colossal
• oversize
• prodigious
• mammoth
• monstrous
• astronomical
• immense
• monumental
• outsize
• titanic
• jumbo
• whopping
• hulking
• herculean
• bumper
• elephantine
• king-size

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• negligible
• nominal
• insignificant
• insubstantial
• inconsequential
• unimportant
• trivial
• marginal
• puny
• inconsiderable
• small
• petty
• meager
• trifling
• little
• paltry
• tiny
• minute
• slight
• undersized
• smallish
• piddling
• miniature
• picayunish
• measly
• pocket
• diminutive
• bitty
• picayune
• pocket-size
• pygmy
• pint-size

4

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• thriving
• prosperous
• successful
• golden
• prospering
• wealthy
• booming
• flourishing
• roaring
• affluent
• palmy
• rich
• lush
• halcyon
• comfortable
• boomy
• substantial
• moneyed
• well-to-do
• opulent
• well-off
• well-heeled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• depressed
• unsuccessful
• failing
• dying
• struggling
• declining
• unprosperous
• bankrupt
• languishing
• insolvent
• floundering
• bankrupted

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

Recent Examples of healthy

Going to the gym and healthy eating has helped reverse the clock. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026

The most obvious someone is Ross Colton, who has played well since returning to the lineup but has had two snakebitten seasons in a row and was a healthy scratch to start the playoffs. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 9 May 2026

That’s not an ideal prospect, of course, and skepticism always is healthy. —Kansas City Star, 9 May 2026

In a room full of mirrors, that vivid red bounces back onto your skin, often highlighting imperfections rather than giving you a soft, healthy glow. —Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026

Video

Healthy vs. Healthful

Why both words are equally good for you.