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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
Perhaps the most heartening aspect of creating the object at the center of the stop-motion sequence — the clockwork heart — was that it was put together the traditional way.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 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
Advertisement The trends in the report are heartening for Americans’ health, and, not for nothing, good news too for the marketers who supply the balls, helmets, paddles, and bats that keep us out on the greens, courts, tracks, and fields.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
At any rate, being able to planet hunt in such close (in cosmic terms) proximity is heartening to scientists.
—David Szondy
august 14, New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2025
Their answers are actually heartening.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
The company has had such a long and challenging road over more than a decade; the prospect of their success should be heartening to the commercial space industry.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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
Perhaps the most heartening aspect of creating the object at the center of the stop-motion sequence — the clockwork heart — was that it was put together the traditional way.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
People are feeling that positive energy of coming together, so that’s heartening to feel.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 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
Advertisement The trends in the report are heartening for Americans’ health, and, not for nothing, good news too for the marketers who supply the balls, helmets, paddles, and bats that keep us out on the greens, courts, tracks, and fields.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
At any rate, being able to planet hunt in such close (in cosmic terms) proximity is heartening to scientists.
—David Szondy
august 14, New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2025
Their answers are actually heartening.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
The company has had such a long and challenging road over more than a decade; the prospect of their success should be heartening to the commercial space industry.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartening
Adjective
-
The struggling team may not be done there, with an insider reporting that teams are calling about another promising defensive player -- with the Jets looking at a Day 2 pick in return.—
Nathan Dougherty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Making over $80,000 may sound like a promising salary for some, but the paycheck would struggle to keep up with New Yorkers’ cost of living.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s two straight encouraging performances from Lopez, who went 15-for-19 for 216 yards and two touchdowns against Syracuse.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Amazingly, Exposure contestants go through hours of practice and performance each day without ever seeming to tire, and along with the competitive spirit, there’s a real sense of community, with skaters constantly encouraging, applauding, and appreciating each other.—
Lonnie Burstein Hewitt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The measure’s approval allows Democrats to redraw congressional maps more favorable to their party in the nation’s largest state and keep up with Republicans who have moved to add potential new red House seats in Texas and elsewhere.—
Josh Boak,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
-
By contrast, the Moon is a much more favorable environment by many metrics.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Moonshot Museum opened in 2022 and was Pennsylvania's first space museum as well as the first in the world to focus on inspiring young people to pursue a career in the modern space industry.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
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Professional sports are rapacious for-profit enterprises that produce wildly entertaining, sometimes violent, and sometimes inspiring athletic competition.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Bure is keeping her faith — and her Christmas crown — shining bright.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Researchers have discovered the brightest and most powerful flare ever seen from a supermassive black hole.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Whether for the potluck, the cookout, or a Wednesday night dinner with your family, these Southern side dishes are comforting, easy, and crowd-pleasing.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
-
In those cases, soft lighting, quiet music, or a comforting scent can make the space feel safer.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
As governor, his folksy, hopeful online webcasts drew national viewership.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The filmmakers and Disney are hopeful the pic will have staying power because of its subject matter, originality and solid audience scores.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
While the center has shifted its funding to focus to operating the two clinics and remaining open as a gathering space, Hawkins is still optimistic despite the losses.—
Eloise Rollins-Fife,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
-
And participants with the top 20% of stock holdings are especially optimistic.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartening. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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