SALUTARY Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

salutary

adjective

ˈsal-yə-ˌter-ē

Definition of salutary

as in beneficial

promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being the low interest rates should have a salutary effect on business

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in healthy

good for the health increasing scientific evidence that a glass of wine a day is quite salutary

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 But whether permanency has a salutary effect on the program is an important question that will be answered in the next couple of years, Brett Theodos of the Urban Institute said. — Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2026 Trump’s announcement did have the salutary effect of placing the issue of financial services costs on the front burner, after its having languished for years. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026 The outlines of the Iranian Revolution of 1979 are already seared into the American psyche, but this spellbinding book adds fascinating texture and provides a salutary warning for policymakers today. — Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025 If so, the decision will represent a salutary turn to judicial enforcement of limits on presidential power. — Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for salutary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for salutary

Adjective

More broadly, the decoupling could be beneficial for the Nasdaq-100, with Apple potentially serving as a safety trade amid growing AI volatility.

— Fred Imbert, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
And the controversy, the Collins insider says, may turn out to be perversely beneficial.

— Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of beneficial

Adjective

And while the new study was conducted only among cancer patients, Mak said more research could reveal whether similar findings may emerge among otherwise healthy people who may be interested in their longevity.

— Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Sophie, mom Annie and her great-aunt comprised The 3 Suckers — a play on the small side shoots that can stunt the growth of healthy leaves.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of healthy

Adjective

The Michigan Senate contest is just one of the high-profile races where AIPAC has spent in favor of a pro-Israel politician or in opposition to someone the organization sees as less favorable to Israel.

— Saige Miller, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
Wedgewood polls tended to be about 1 percentage point more favorable for Democrats than other polls, according to Silver.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of favorable

Adjective

That’s not super helpful if your web application has been written using PHP.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
In order to be helpful, Muse constantly builds extensive dossiers of users and their desires, social relationships, and messaging behaviors, TIME’s Harry Booth reported this month.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of helpful

Adjective

Stones, Soddu explains, have a very long history of being associated with energetic, medicinal, protective, and symbolic properties.

— Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026
Take a two-hour walk through the garden with herbalist William Broen, who will give a talk focusing on medicinal and edible plants native to California.

— Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of medicinal

Adjective

This is not a medical spa and therefore there is no nutrition concept, but healthful snacks like fruit grown on property and nuts are available in the changing spaces, hydrotherapy zone and the relaxation rooms.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
As more people choose to stay in their homes longer, homeowners are looking for ways to create spaces that support and enhance healthful living with longevity in mind.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of healthful

Adjective

Rich in sodium chloride, bromine and iodine, the salubrious streams that bubble up from the depths of the lake now feed the SPA & Thermal Garden (previously known as Aquaria) complex, with infinity pools overlooking the waterbody.

— Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
The Austrian Southern Railway Company managers’ masterstroke was to promote Opatija as a spa town no less salubrious—and no less glamorous—than Nice, the prime destination for convalescents in the age of tuberculosis.

— Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026

Definition of salubrious

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salubrious

salutary

salutation

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“Salutary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/salutary. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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