WELL) Synonyms: 504 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

well 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of well next

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

as in generously

in a generous manner a warm and gracious host who always treats guests well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in masterfully

in a skillful or expert manner she plays the piano very well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in nicely

in a pleasing way the day went well, despite the rough beginning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in smoothly

without difficulty he can well afford to spare the time

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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

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

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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

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

How is the word well distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

How is the word well distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

How is the word well distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

January 20 – February 18 Collaboration works best when the aims are clear. —

Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026 The venue has long been the home of the Emmys as well. —

Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2026

Interjection

Backed by solid work by a handful of other writers, the actor wears all of Shah’s unlikeable qualities while still somehow managing to be, well, fairly likeable. —

Mark Meszoros, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026 Self-improvement, in this view, isn’t pursued to, well, improve the self. —

Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026

Noun

The military had turned the well into a mass grave, dumping the bodies of students, political activists and rural workers deemed subversive, and covering them with layers of earth, stones and debris. —

Débora Rey, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026 Eating and drinking In a city where eating well is practically guaranteed, Hotel de la Ville still manages to raise the bar. —

Vicki Power, TheWeek, 23 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Over the weekend, the president fanned the flames of the trade war by threatening China with 100 percent tariffs over its imposition of export controls, only to insist, on Monday, that all was well with the bilateral trade relationship. —

Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 2025 What is most appealing about YoungBoy is that his music, quite frankly, is the sound of a man who is very much not well. —

Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for well

Recent Examples of Synonyms for well

Adverb

After all, Tatis did just fine as the Dominican’s leadoff hitter in the World Baseball Classic.

— Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
The announcement comes at a moment when calls for reform at fine-dining institutions and the awards bestowed on them have become a flashpoint.

— Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026

Definition of fine

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“Well.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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Synonyms of well

adverb

interjection

noun

adjective

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