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
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
The arc of a wrongful-conviction story bends toward exoneration and release—a flawed but heartening correction of past wrongs.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
That has not been a heartening process.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
The most heartening thing about this deeply disturbing moment is seeing how consistently and forcefully Minnesotans of all demographics have been pushing back.
—Scott Meslow, The Verge, 19 Jan. 2026
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
Despite public gloom over a largely dysfunctional government, voters achieved a few heartening results.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 12 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
Matthew Heimer, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
The fact that our national media has become increasingly focused on this side of the story is heartening.
—Kevin A. Sabet, STAT, 1 Apr. 2026
But representation, particularly these days, can be a radical act, and there’s something heartening at the sight of the Kim family enjoying their turn in the mainstream spotlight.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Pisces February 19 – March 20 Naming your options can be heartening today.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
February 19 – March 20 Naming your options can be heartening today.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Mar. 2026
Its diagnosis is accurate and plans for a $12 billion dollar strategic stockpile heartening.
—Markos Kounalakis, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
And that's been really heartening to me.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Even at a plateau, the trajectory of the rodent numbers is heartening, said the state’s department of Game and Fish, especially given that the past year has been a dry one for Arizona’s Sky Island habitats, where the squirrels reside.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Cameras captured the heartening sight on the podium of Peter Bonnington, Hamilton’s former race engineer who now looks after Antonelli, standing in the middle of the two drivers.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
The arc of a wrongful-conviction story bends toward exoneration and release—a flawed but heartening correction of past wrongs.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
That has not been a heartening process.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
The most heartening thing about this deeply disturbing moment is seeing how consistently and forcefully Minnesotans of all demographics have been pushing back.
—Scott Meslow, The Verge, 19 Jan. 2026
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
Despite public gloom over a largely dysfunctional government, voters achieved a few heartening results.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 12 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
Verb
That’s fascinating and in some ways heartening to a newbie.
—Matthew Heimer, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
The fact that our national media has become increasingly focused on this side of the story is heartening.
—Kevin A. Sabet, STAT, 1 Apr. 2026
But representation, particularly these days, can be a radical act, and there’s something heartening at the sight of the Kim family enjoying their turn in the mainstream spotlight.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Pisces February 19 – March 20 Naming your options can be heartening today.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
February 19 – March 20 Naming your options can be heartening today.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Mar. 2026
Its diagnosis is accurate and plans for a $12 billion dollar strategic stockpile heartening.
—Markos Kounalakis, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
And that's been really heartening to me.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Even at a plateau, the trajectory of the rodent numbers is heartening, said the state’s department of Game and Fish, especially given that the past year has been a dry one for Arizona’s Sky Island habitats, where the squirrels reside.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartening
Adjective
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Against Newcastle, the freedom Eze had to roam was on an even bigger scale than the promising display in Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City last week.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The robot is still in research and development on Earth right now, with proof-of-concept tests proving quite promising.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Angels fans who had regained some faith in Yusei Kikuchi after last weekend’s encouraging start could only watch with frustration as all of that was wiped away in one disturbing inning.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The research is not conclusive on the use of GLP-1 and Alzheimer’s, but some preliminary data is encouraging.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Consider a personal loan for debt consolidation For borrowers who can't qualify for a favorable balance transfer offer or for those who would prefer a different route, debt consolidation could make more sense.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
How to Get Around Montréal's ease and affordability are among its biggest draws for college students, and right now, the favorable exchange rate certainly helps.—
Megan Wallitsch,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Still, the whale’s plight has captured imaginations, even inspiring protests in Germany to urge authorities not to give up on the animal.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Architecture & Archaeology The Mundo Maya region has arguably the most impressive archaeological sites in all of the world, rivaling even the awe-inspiring pyramids of Egypt.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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After being bossed by Paris Saint-Germain across two legs in the Champions League quarter-final, Slot insisted the future remained bright at Liverpool.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Scientists have documented that increasingly brighter nights are altering animal behavior, reproduction cycles and survival.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Save your hammam for the evening and head straight to bed afterwards for the most comforting results.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There is something comforting, to me, about this churn of champions and challengers.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Minnesota’s outlook isn’t as hopeful as the Lakers’, what with DiVincenzo, who was a team-best plus-45 in four games, likely out for most of next season and Edwards expected to need several weeks to return.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Both Angela Ingersoll, who played the ever-hopeful Sally, and Michelle Duffy, as the cynical realist Phyllis, pulsed with vivacious energy, playing across from Rapp’s sardonic take on wound-tight Ben and Wallem’s deeply sad exploration of Buddy.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Ahead of the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting Saturday, the mood in the air was cautiously optimistic as new and returning investors weighed the company’s direction under a new chief executive.—
Yun Li,Alex Harring,Sarah Min,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
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Blue Origin has a long way to go before achieving 100 New Glenn flights, and doing it within three years sounds overly optimistic.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartening. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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