1
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope
a heartening visit to the hospital, where the patient was alert and sitting up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in encouraging
making one feel good inside
hearing how his students still appreciated him after all those years was heartening to the music teacher
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in favorable
pointing toward a happy outcome
the accomplishments of the first day were a heartening start to our renovation of the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in inspiring
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
thinking we were hopelessly lost, we were heartened by the sight of a familiar farmhouse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heartening
Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
What's particularly heartening is the number of Republican voters calling for such protections.
—Michael Kleinman, Time, 22 Nov. 2025
None of the Broncos’ offensive ranks — 19th in yards per play, 15th in yards per game, 21st in points per game — are particularly heartening.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
Hearing from speakers with a direct connection to Palestine, who were unafraid to speak openly and vividly about the unfathomable violence that Palestine has faced, felt uniquely heartening.
—Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 18 Sep. 2025
Brennand closed Saturday’s event with the heartening news that Manas is now screening in the very communities where the abuse and violence depicted onscreen are taking place.
—Stacey Wilson Hunt, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2025
One of the more heartening things Steib's witnessed came after funding for the Prism Program was halted.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The story of her success is a heartening one.
—Book Marks
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
His investment in Rudy’s morality lends the exemplary legal saga a heartening, tender air.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Aug. 2025
Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
It’s been heartening to watch states step up and become a bulwark against federal overreach.
—Mary Ellen Klas, Twin Cities, 31 Dec. 2025
It’s been heartening to see these many reverent tributes to not only Reiner’s good deeds in the arena of social justice, but also to his film work, which has maybe not always been properly appreciated for its breadth and vitality.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 Dec. 2025
Ambika Maharaj, a striking Teamsters member who has worked in campus security at El Cerrito High School since 2009, said the support has been heartening during a time when many of the staff feel undervalued by their employer.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025
The news is especially heartening after Boeing’s messy third-quarter earnings report in October, which triggered a weeks-long selloff due to a larger-than-expected charge associated with delays in the 777X program.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 2 Dec. 2025
His message of unity was heartening.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Every politician and public figure should be trying to turn down the temperature in this moment, and it's been heartening to see officials on both sides of the aisle condemn the attack on Kirk.
—Peter Aitken
jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Gordon’s emergence has been both heartening and necessary, with injuries temporarily sidelining De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Yet the five-part series, named after Fitzgerald’s club, is more heartening than dour.
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
What's particularly heartening is the number of Republican voters calling for such protections.
—Michael Kleinman, Time, 22 Nov. 2025
None of the Broncos’ offensive ranks — 19th in yards per play, 15th in yards per game, 21st in points per game — are particularly heartening.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
Hearing from speakers with a direct connection to Palestine, who were unafraid to speak openly and vividly about the unfathomable violence that Palestine has faced, felt uniquely heartening.
—Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 18 Sep. 2025
Brennand closed Saturday’s event with the heartening news that Manas is now screening in the very communities where the abuse and violence depicted onscreen are taking place.
—Stacey Wilson Hunt, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2025
One of the more heartening things Steib's witnessed came after funding for the Prism Program was halted.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The story of her success is a heartening one.
—Book Marks
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
His investment in Rudy’s morality lends the exemplary legal saga a heartening, tender air.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
And that's been really heartening to me.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
It’s been heartening to watch states step up and become a bulwark against federal overreach.
—Mary Ellen Klas, Twin Cities, 31 Dec. 2025
It’s been heartening to see these many reverent tributes to not only Reiner’s good deeds in the arena of social justice, but also to his film work, which has maybe not always been properly appreciated for its breadth and vitality.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 Dec. 2025
Ambika Maharaj, a striking Teamsters member who has worked in campus security at El Cerrito High School since 2009, said the support has been heartening during a time when many of the staff feel undervalued by their employer.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025
The news is especially heartening after Boeing’s messy third-quarter earnings report in October, which triggered a weeks-long selloff due to a larger-than-expected charge associated with delays in the 777X program.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 2 Dec. 2025
His message of unity was heartening.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Every politician and public figure should be trying to turn down the temperature in this moment, and it's been heartening to see officials on both sides of the aisle condemn the attack on Kirk.
—Peter Aitken
jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Gordon’s emergence has been both heartening and necessary, with injuries temporarily sidelining De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartening
Adjective
-
Browns Cleveland boasts an elite defense led by the league’s best pass rusher, an owner who spends more cash than any other team and a promising nucleus from the 2025 draft class.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Creativity, romance and pleasure take on a more serious tone, and a connection could feel both exciting and promising.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Regrettably, state agencies do not have an encouraging record of investigating themselves when trouble arrives.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
24 Jan. 2026
-
After an encouraging display in the 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, fans are keen to see a similar performance against Burnley today.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The fame Jefferson sought was the second one, closer to honor and the acceptance of one’s ideas, credit for possession of a desirable character and a favorable reputation that would outlive him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The quarterly rebalanced assortment of large-, mid-, and small-cap RV Portfolio stocks offers an adaptable way to capitalize on favorable market conditions while minimizing losses when the market declines, as detailed in RV Portfolio performance metrics.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Director Wes Anderson credited the Library of Congress for inspiring the movie's distinct visual style.—
Neda Ulaby,
NPR,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Shrinking co-creator Bill Lawrence has credited Fox with inspiring how the show approaches Parkinson’s disease.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Even hospital appointments were overwhelming, with bright lights leaving her drained and overstimulated.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The bright blue facade is a beacon of hope at a time when many residents and business owners are still caught in the difficult process of rebuilding after the fires.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The couple's daughter recalled a warm and comforting childhood.—
Nicole Nielsen,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Some of the behaviors most strongly associated with deep, durable love don’t feel comforting in the moment at all.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Anderson said the arguments left supporters hopeful.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Police remain hopeful that recent advancements in DNA testing, which have been used on evidence collected in Amber's case, and new tips from the public will help solve the case.—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The analysts, who kept their hold rating, came away from yesterday's Investor Day and earnings on Wednesday evening optimistic in the near-term about CEO Brian Niccol's turnaround but feel further progress is needed to get more excited down the road.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But there is certainly a reason to be optimistic about that given that both Daniel Bryan and Edge were ultimately given the greenlight to wrestle in WWE after similar injuries.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartening. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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