Definition of heartfeltnext
as in sincere
genuine in feeling a number of the retiring teacher's former students have expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the invaluable lessons they learned in his classroom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word heartfelt distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of heartfelt are hearty, sincere, unfeigned, and wholehearted. While all these words mean "genuine in feeling," heartfelt suggests depth of genuine feeling outwardly expressed.

expresses our heartfelt gratitude

When could hearty be used to replace heartfelt?

The words hearty and heartfelt can be used in similar contexts, but hearty suggests honesty, warmth, and exuberance in displaying feeling.

received a hearty welcome

When is it sensible to use sincere instead of heartfelt?

In some situations, the words sincere and heartfelt are roughly equivalent. However, sincere stresses absence of hypocrisy, feigning, or any falsifying embellishment or exaggeration.

a sincere apology

In what contexts can unfeigned take the place of heartfelt?

The meanings of unfeigned and heartfelt largely overlap; however, unfeigned stresses spontaneity and absence of pretense.

her unfeigned delight at receiving the award

When is wholehearted a more appropriate choice than heartfelt?

The words wholehearted and heartfelt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wholehearted suggests sincerity and earnest devotion without reservation or misgiving.

promised our wholehearted support

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of heartfelt Even heartfelt moments where Jackie’s deepest secrets are revealed, connecting her sordid past to her chaotic future, fail to elicit a true emotional tug. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026 With a soprano voice that’s sharp but never shrill, O’Donovan can levitate a heartfelt melody over just about any kind of accompaniment. — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026 Asked about the one thing everyone needs to know about their generation, the responses were revealing and heartfelt. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026 Weug described her disappointment in a heartfelt social media post in August and appealed for teams and sponsors to get in touch. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heartfelt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartfelt
Adjective
  • Onscreen, this ethnic conflict allowed Ken-san and other kimonoed gangsters to be presented as pure, sincere, patriotic heroes fighting for traditional Japanese values against savage aliens as well as local, gun-toting yakuza.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Rahimi plays him as a mostly sincere but deeply conflicted man, and most importantly a desperate one, capable of some rather unexpected deceptions.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • As such, the greatest obstacle to genuine transformation is getting stuck in the planning cycle.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Notably, the new action comes about a month after UMG had sued DistroKid in September, claiming the company has helped empower bad actors to upload AI slop songs at mass scale, diluting the royalty pool for genuine artists.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • This was a performer whose sense of self-worth, depending on the day, ranged from unfeigned humility to desperate insecurity to full-on self-loathing.
    — Bruce Handy, Air Mail, 3 May 2025
  • His life story is inspiring, and his love of country is as unfeigned as his faith.
    — Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Heartfelt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartfelt. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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