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
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
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
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
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
-
In early 2020, a bevy of new hypercars was announced—several promising at least 300 mph.—
Ben Oliver,
Robb Report,
30 Sep. 2025
-
But for the millions of people bearing the brunt of housing deficits and the global housing mismatch, this sounds like a promising approach to partially tackling these issues.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Beck’s chemistry with Daniels and Toney has been phenomenal most of the season, but Saturday’s performance was encouraging after the Hurricanes’ passing game struggled at home against Florida two weeks ago.—
Manny Navarro,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Fall has just begun and Lake Tahoe ski resorts may be 40 or 50 days away from opening, but winter showed encouraging signs on Friday.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Conditions are favorable for the development of weak, brief funnel clouds.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Its surveys vary in their findings across time and can be either favorable or unfavorable to the government.—
Nina Khrushcheva,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The film reveals awe-inspiring cosmic vistas and glimpses of daily life in orbit, captured with 8K ultra-high-definition cameras.—
Marcelo Cajueiro,
Variety,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Bridges have always been one of the most awe-inspiring marvels of engineering.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Rooms around her, their doors still painted bright yellow from when the hotel was a boutique property, started to empty out.—
Ashley Hiruko,
ProPublica,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The future is bright for this organization.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The smoke was billowing, but that ray of sunshine that came through was just very comforting.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The hearty blend of tomatoes, chicken, turkey, and rice is seriously comforting.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
While their recent encounter marked a hopeful step forward, royal insiders caution that a long road lies ahead before full reconciliation is likely.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
-
At a weekly Saturday night gathering for the hostages in Tel Aviv, many people sounded cautiously hopeful — if not frustrated with the political leadership at home.—
Rebecca Rosman,
NPR,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That kind of novel feels a little too optimistic about the outcome of this kind of research.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Advertisement Svetlana’s optimistic pretend normalcy and Lyudmila’s practical approach to medication point to impossibility of fathoming the many crushing consequences of the Ukraine crisis.—
Nina Khrushcheva,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartening. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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