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 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 While that may be hard to enforce, the goal is salutary. The Editors, National Review, 25 Mar. 2025 Whether Friday’s sharp intraday wobble on some tariff headlines was a sign that these salutary factors are losing their hold on the market is just one crucial question awaiting investors in February. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 1 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for salutary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for salutary
Adjective
  • Working directly with an outside expert may be beneficial.
    Simon Dae Oong Kim, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Finding the right probiotic Paul and her colleagues have spent over six years investigating whether beneficial microorganisms (aka probiotics) could be a longer lasting alternative to combat this pathogen.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • But there’s some evidence that antioxidants, healthy eating, and other methods of reducing inflammation could minimize the harm microplastics have on our bodies.
    Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 2 June 2025
  • This strategic focus on ensuring a healthy mix of companies across sectors has enabled the HQ portfolio to outperform the S&P 500, achieving returns greater than 91% since its inception.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • Bubic relied on his fastball more to get in favorable counts before mixing the rest of his pitching arsenal.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
  • That means chances are favorable for geomagnetic storms that lead to widespread sightings of the northern lights in the near future.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • Then, Bennett, the Panthers best player these playoffs, took a tripping penalty behind the play coming out of the offensive zone.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
  • As good as Trachtenberg is at keeping secrets, this particular one seems unlikely.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • For me, the the familiarity is a helpful tool, because everyone comes in with a certain set of expectations.
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2025
  • Leaning into local markets and trends is helpful if your area sees a dip in activity, while striking while the iron is hot will serve those with more foot traffic.
    Rahim Madhavji, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • While hemp can be used for industrial methods, it’s also used for medicinal purposes.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2025
  • The Intersection of Feminine Energy and Cannabis Cannabis has been used for thousands of years for both medicinal and spiritual purposes.
    Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 1 June 2025
Adjective
  • In that case, a state court ruled that Montana had violated young residents’ constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by promoting fossil fuel development.
    Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • For example, a suit in Montana targeted the state for failing to provide its residents with a healthful environment.
    John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 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 17 Jun. 2025.

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