Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective salutary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of salutary are healthful, salubrious, and wholesome. While all these words mean "favorable to the health of mind or body," salutary describes something corrective or beneficially effective, even though it may in itself be unpleasant.

a salutary warning that resulted in increased production

When could healthful be used to replace salutary?

The synonyms healthful and salutary are sometimes interchangeable, but healthful implies a positive contribution to a healthy condition.

a healthful diet

When might salubrious be a better fit than salutary?

While in some cases nearly identical to salutary, salubrious applies chiefly to the helpful effects of climate or air.

cool and salubrious weather

In what contexts can wholesome take the place of salutary?

The words wholesome and salutary can be used in similar contexts, but wholesome applies to what benefits, builds up, or sustains physically, mentally, or spiritually.

wholesome foods
the movie is wholesome family entertainment

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 salutary His Canadian ploy was not salutary or deliberate, and the justifications that were marshaled in its defense made no sense either for him or for the United States. Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 29 Apr. 2025 In Syria, ramping up support to U.S. allies on the ground would have a similarly salutary effect on U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s diplomatic initiatives. Linda S. Robinson, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2015 To some analysts, that difference is a tribute to the flexibility of Britain’s parliamentary government and a salutary distinction between Britain and the United States. Mark Landler, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 Some of history’s most salutary technologies—telephones, automobiles, antibiotics, international jet travel, the personal computer—bent society’s productivity and wealth curves upward. Rich Karlgaard, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for salutary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for salutary
Adjective
  • Both experts say that dry brushing, the physical exfoliant that sloughs away dead skin cells, can be beneficial to keeping strawberry legs at bay.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 1 July 2025
  • Earlier research from 2013 also highlighted video games' ability to enhance problem-solving skills, suggesting video games are more beneficial to cognitive development than previously thought.
    George Toh, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Primarily, passenger revenue grew a healthy 5.4% to £2.16 billion, as travel demand remained robust and was able to meet the higher capacity introduced.
    John Choong, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Curcumin also supports the healthy flexibility and function of your blood vessels.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • The odds backcourt mate Will Richard would hear his name called were not nearly as favorable.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025
  • The quarterly rebalanced mix of large-, mid-, and small-cap RV Portfolio stocks has provided a dynamic approach to leveraging favorable market conditions while minimizing losses when markets decline, as detailed in RV Portfolio performance metrics.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • That looks like a pretty good bet to me, going forward.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 24 June 2025
  • What Aggarwal does best is to blend traditional Indian craftsmanship with modern designs, and this collection was no different — with his modern reinterpretations of vintage Banarasi textiles.
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Anxiety can hinder so much of everyday life, but there are many helpful and safe ways to cope.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 23 June 2025
  • Research shows that legumes also provide various helpful compounds, such as peptides, polyphenols, and saponins.10 These compounds are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
    Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 22 June 2025
Adjective
  • Some even eat loquats raw, not only for their addictive taste, but also for medicinal purposes.
    Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2025
  • It is often sold in the form of lotions, oils and edibles for medicinal purposes.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • At the same time, approximately 80% of chronic disease and premature death could be prevented by not smoking, being physically active, and adhering to a healthful dietary pattern.
    Gil Press, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
  • The home created for the program was filled with a gym, healthful food and other healthful amenities.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • At a moment as troubled as this one, to escape from this time into time itself is somehow salubrious.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Others wondered whether his election will have salubrious effects on Pakistan’s shambolic economy, foreign policy, or internal security.
    C. Christine Fair, Foreign Affairs, 27 July 2018

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Cite this Entry

“Salutary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/salutary. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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