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well

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interjection

well

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noun

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as in pool
a small often deep body of water the spot where the spring bubbles up to the surface and forms a deep well

Synonyms & Similar Words

well

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word well distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of well are hale, healthy, robust, sound, and wholesome. While all these words mean "enjoying or indicative of good health," well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

she has never been a well person

When could hale be used to replace well?

While the synonyms hale and well are close in meaning, hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

still hale at the age of eighty

Where would healthy be a reasonable alternative to well?

Although the words healthy and well have much in common, healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease.

a healthy family

In what contexts can robust take the place of well?

The words robust and well are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

a lively, robust little boy

When is it sensible to use sound instead of well?

In some situations, the words sound and well are roughly equivalent. However, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

a sound heart

When would wholesome be a good substitute for well?

While in some cases nearly identical to well, wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance.

a face with a wholesome glow

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 well
Adverb
The Sun Devils haven’t been consistent week to week, and their loss to Mississippi State hasn’t aged well. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2025 Choose a small 6-inch pot with drainage holes, and fill it with a well-draining potting mix. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
Interjection
Because, well, our relationship was always so sporadic. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025 Experts recommend no more than 2 tablespoons of apple cider daily, well diluted in water. Md Published, Verywell Health, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
Pour the yeast mixture, oil, and another ⅔ cup/150 ml lukewarm water into the well. Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025 But many new parents were still getting last year's box well into 2025 because Kela still had so many left over from 2024. Sarah McCammon, NPR, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Beneath the surface, though, all is not well. Ian King, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025 The ads for it were…well, pure 1970s. Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for well
Recent Examples of Synonyms for well
Adverb
  • That works fine — except when there are 500 other curious people using their phones around you!
    Greg Palkot, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
  • And though this slick east-side restaurant has loosened up a bit, the razor-sharp staff still runs the place like the fine-dining spectacle it's been for 20 years, with perfect pacing and so much poise.
    Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Neither half of this grotesque couple wanted to end their relationship with a man who had so generously enabled their lifestyles.
    Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Midler herself got off a few zingers during her heartfelt speech, which saw her generously praise dozens of people who helped her nonprofit help New Yorkers over the decades.
    Joe Lynch, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Milei caters masterfully to Trump’s ego and will be president even if his party loses seats in Argentina’s legislature.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
  • This particular aspect of the show frays the gripping tone that had been so masterfully crafted from its opening scene.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Best to assume that whatever my past, in this case the world has treated me kindly.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025
  • When kindly suburban businesswoman Peg (Dianne West) takes him in, Edward's soft heart and artistic skills win over her family — particularly her teenage daughter (Winona Ryder) — but the very hands that create beauty also stir fear, causing the neighbors to sharpen their pitchforks.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Grisham would fit nicely in center field in Philadelphia, and Citizens Bank Park needs no introduction as a hitter's haven.
    Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Again, all three videos have audio, and this time, Perplexity’s and Veo 3’s audio pairs quite nicely with their videos.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • The 27-yard dart, perfectly thrown to the goal line, unlocked a tie at 27 on the first play of the fourth quarter.
    Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
  • For makeup, Sweeney’s hot pink eyeliner perfectly complemented her pastel gown.
    Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • These price adjustments are meant to keep deliveries moving smoothly during the high-volume months of November and December.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The robot also connects smoothly via Ethernet and power ports.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • As various ancient sources recount, after Achilles is killed by Paris, the Greeks resort to deception.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • In the midst of tragedy came a small offering of knowledge from an unsuspecting source.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Well.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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