healthy

adjective

ˈhel-thē How to pronounce healthy (audio)
Definition of healthynext
1
as in well
enjoying health and vigor always a hard worker, Grandma has remained healthy into her 80s

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in good
beneficial to the health of body or mind the air in here isn't healthy ads that promote healthy eating habits

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in substantial
sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention a healthy turnout of volunteers to plant trees on Arbor Day

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in thriving
marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically coming out of a prolonged recession, the restaurant business seemed to be healthy again

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word healthy distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

a healthy family

Where would hale be a reasonable alternative to healthy?

While in some cases nearly identical to healthy, hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

still hale at the age of eighty

When is robust a more appropriate choice than healthy?

While the synonyms robust and healthy are close in meaning, robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

a lively, robust little boy

When might sound be a better fit than healthy?

Although the words sound and healthy have much in common, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

a sound heart

When would well be a good substitute for healthy?

The words well and healthy can be used in similar contexts, but well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

she has never been a well person

In what contexts can wholesome take the place of healthy?

The meanings of wholesome and healthy largely overlap; however, 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 healthy Pomegranates also contain vitamin K and folate, which can help support healthy blood clotting and cell growth, respectively. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 July 2026 The secret to healthy aging Hennawi said research continues to show that healthy aging isn't determined by medicine or genetics alone. — Nicky Zizaza, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Investors are debating if the tech rally, fueled by AI, constitutes a bubble, yet the current market cycle appears healthier than the dot-com boom. — Andrew Graham, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 And while the sector decline weighed on the broader market, Ned Davis Research strategist Rob Anderson thinks the rotation out of semiconductors is healthy. — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for healthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for healthy
  1. well
  2. good
  3. substantial
  4. thriving
  5. robust
  6. healthful
  7. sizable
  8. prosperous
Adjective
  • When complaint becomes habitual, one’s attention might automatically drift toward problems; the neural path is well trod.
    — James Davis, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • When South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena blasted home a penalty that leveled things in the 83rd minute and Mercedes-Benz Stadium erupted at an ear-splitting decibel level, any thoughts of The Wave were well and truly forgotten.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
Definition of well
Adjective
  • The next best thing to intravenous intervention when dehydrated is Liquid IV.
    — Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • Our best guess is that there might be a little bit of recognition for the youngest generations, too, watching all those clips — as in, Holy cow, Austin Powers was real!
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 7 July 2026
Definition of good
Adjective
  • Trading commodities, futures, and options involves a substantial risk of loss.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • For smaller private colleges that are tuition dependent and lack substantial and accessible endowments, even a modest reduction in enrollment could prove calamitous.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of substantial
Adjective
  • Despite a thriving local soccer scene and success in competition abroad, the only time the country appeared in the tournament was in Mexico in 1970.
    — Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026
  • We’re inspired by our vision to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare for all.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of thriving
Adjective
  • Before the earthquakes, the government generally defended its national health system as robust, blaming shortcomings on sanctions imposed by the United States.
    — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • The country also offers robust infrastructure, with new projects such as the Hafeet Rail, enhanced digital connectivity, favorable tax policies, and a low crime rate.
    — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
Definition of robust
Adjective
  • The couple has a passion for healthful eating and taking care of the environment, providing for the land that provides for them, as Hakenah Hulitt put it.
    — Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • Potatoes are generally considered a more healthful option than rice due to their lower calorie content and higher fiber, iron, potassium, and vitamin B6 content.
    — Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 9 June 2026
Definition of healthful
Adjective
  • The hard-right Vox party at one stage even reached out to Latinos, now a sizable voting bloc, assuming that Catholic, Evangelical, and anti-Communist members of those communities would share right-wing values.
    — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 2 July 2026
  • Other states with sizable contingents include West Virginia, Nebraska, Florida and Louisiana.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of sizable
Adjective
  • Hamilton championed the bank as a necessary component for building a prosperous America with a stable financial system.
    — Owen Lamont, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • Infrastructure, education, healthcare and utilities have all benefitted and Botswana is now viewed as one of the continent’s most stable and prosperous economies.
    — Kate Matthams, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of prosperous

Browse Nearby Words

health spas
healthy
heap
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Cite this Entry

“Healthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/healthy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of healthy for Spanish Speakers

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