Synonym Chooser

How is the word wholesome distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of wholesome are hale, healthy, robust, sound, and well. While all these words mean "enjoying or indicative of good health," wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance.

a face with a wholesome glow

Where would hale be a reasonable alternative to wholesome?

Although the words hale and wholesome have much in common, hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

still hale at the age of eighty

When is it sensible to use healthy instead of wholesome?

In some situations, the words healthy and wholesome are roughly equivalent. However, 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 wholesome?

The synonyms robust and wholesome are sometimes interchangeable, but robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

a lively, robust little boy

When can sound be used instead of wholesome?

The meanings of sound and wholesome largely overlap; however, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

a sound heart

When could well be used to replace wholesome?

While the synonyms well and wholesome are close in meaning, well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

she has never been a well person

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 wholesome Each type adds its own quality to autumn salads and wholesome pastas. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025 Our Test Kitchen has developed several wholesome quick and easy pasta recipes that match that time, including my go-to Cottage Cheese Alfredo. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2025 Even the return of a more mature Alexis Saelemaekers, who was a member of Milan’s last title-winning team in 2022, appears to have contributed to a more wholesome, less toxic environment. James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025 The trailer opens with scenes of a seemingly wholesome town as the Hanlon family moves in. Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wholesome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wholesome
Adjective
  • Use a simple ratio of 1 cup of fruit, 1 cup of greens, a source of protein, and healthy fat to create a satiating, balanced result.
    Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Thanks to her success, the celebrity chef has also been sharing her healthy recipes on social media and her Chloë’s Kitchen food blog.
    Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Running back Chase Brown had his best game of the year on the ground, rushing for 108 yards on just 11 carries against the Pittsburgh defense.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Arkansas’ best offense in a decade is being wasted by a defense that is shaping up to be one of the worst in program history.
    Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Across the country—and especially in the South—plans are well in the works for Thanksgiving meals that will both satisfy and delight guests.
    Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • Every child in our public school district needs regular access to healthful food regardless of their family’s income level.
    Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
  • What began with cooking for a few friends quickly grew into a mission to help busy families and professionals enjoy nourishing meals without compromise, sparking a movement to make healthful eating easier and more meaningful across Arizona.
    Wyles Daniel, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The writing world is robust and there are many of us out here writing together.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The report also called out parts of Italy and Africa for failing to implement robust anti-abuse measures.
    Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wholesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wholesome. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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