well 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of wellnext
1
as in fine
in a satisfactory way our current system for dividing household chores works well, so let's keep it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in generously
in a generous manner a warm and gracious host who always treats guests well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner she plays the piano very well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in kindly
with good reason or courtesy we cannot well get out of going to your cousin's wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in nicely
in a pleasing way the day went well, despite the rough beginning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in perfectly
to a full extent or degree we are well aware that this home renovation is going to be costly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in smoothly
without difficulty he can well afford to spare the time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

well

2 of 4

interjection

as in oh
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable well, that is odd!

Synonyms & Similar Words

well

3 of 4

noun

ˈwel How to pronounce well (audio)
1
as in source
a point or place at which something is invented or provided his quirkily dysfunctional family proved to be a bottomless well of inspiration for the novelist

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
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

4 of 4

adjective

as in healthy
enjoying health and vigor my mother is quite well, thank you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Nila Roper, the intern on the education team this summer, talked to the teens who are learning the value of a job well done. — Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 21 July 2026 The retro, streamlined look lent itself well to a brazen metallic finish, and the colorway quickly became one of the brand’s leading styles among celebrities and shoppers. — Kelsey Stiegman, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 July 2026
Interjection
Single bamboo stakes, wooden tomato sticks, or even trimmed tree branches all work well (as do single metal posts). — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2026 For six weeks there has been a palpable awareness that, well, this might be it. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Noun
From there, the tension stems not from an unending well of sustained suspense but from the shrapnel-like feeling of worry that comes from enduring too many uncomfortable misunderstandings at once. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 July 2026 This eau de parfum, in particular, balances fruity and floral well—without smelling like your grandma’s perfume that’s been on her vanities for decades. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 July 2026
Adjective
Get well Dodger friend and may God bless you and your family. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 That's all well and good, and that's a huge part of the learning process. — Bryant Reed, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for well
Recent Examples of Synonyms for well
  1. fine
  2. generously
  3. masterfully
  4. kindly
  5. nicely
  6. perfectly
  7. smoothly
  8. no
Adverb
  • And while the late-’90s pivot from newsprint to Coke and Snickers worked fine for decades (there was plenty of demand for sugary snacks), that’s changing in the Ozempic and protein-maxxing era.
    — Anne Kadet, Curbed, 22 July 2026
  • Food and Drink Famed chef Wolfgang Puck is the talent behind the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, Cut New York.
    — Nina Ruggiero, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026
Definition of fine
Adverb
  • For the week ending July 19, 2026 Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for fiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
  • Add the cherry tomatoes and season generously with salt and pepper.
    — Laura Mclively, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
Definition of generously
Adverb
  • While traditional tailoring and minimalist silhouettes dominated the red carpet, prospects masterfully personalized their looks.
    — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Son moved fast, especially up the left wing, and arced balls masterfully into the corners of the net.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 24 June 2026
Definition of masterfully
Adverb
  • State terms kindly, write down what matters, and let security grow through follow-through.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026
  • Jodie Sweetin, who played the sarcastic middle child Stephanie Tanner across the series' eight-season run, recently looked back on the sitcom's original pilot, which featured a different actor in the role of kindly Tanner family patriarch Danny.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026
Definition of kindly
Adverb
  • Thierry Henry, the former Barcelona and France forward, put it nicely in an interview with Marca in May.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • Foods and habits to avoid at breakfast Not every breakfast plays nicely with GLP-1 drugs.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 15, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
Definition of nicely
Adverb
  • But unlike the scramble to rescue coral babies a few years back, these corals were still perfectly healthy.
    — Alex Harris July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • Pushing up, squeezing play and trying to regain the ball in advanced positions is a perfectly viable and often successful strategy, particularly when treated as a useful add-on to quality in possession.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of perfectly
Adverb
  • Just as the drive to work might have gone smoothly yesterday, there can be a sudden, unpredictable bottleneck on the same route today.
    — Moshe Kimhi, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Here are expert tips to make the transition go smoothly, not just for your child but for you, too.
    — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 20 July 2026
Definition of smoothly
Interjection
  • Protect our wallets and keep our community affordable by voting ‘no’ on the Park District bond referendum this November.
    — Pioneer Press, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
  • Cushy slides, breezy sundresses, easy two-piece sets, and outfit-making tops are all on sale for $10 or less — and no, that’s not a typo.
    — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Definition of no

Phrases Containing well

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welkins
well
well-adjusted
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Cite this Entry

“Well.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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