HEARTENING Synonyms: 176 Similar and Opposite Words

heartening 1 of 2

adjective

as in promising

having qualities which inspire hope a heartening visit to the hospital, where the patient was alert and sitting up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in encouraging

making one feel good inside hearing how his students still appreciated him after all those years was heartening to the music teacher

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in favorable

pointing toward a happy outcome the accomplishments of the first day were a heartening start to our renovation of the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

heartening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of hearten

as in inspiring

to fill with courage or strength of purpose thinking we were hopelessly lost, we were heartened by the sight of a familiar farmhouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 heartening

Adjective

The range of stories and voices was staggering — and a heartening sign for anyone who believes that the future of African cinema is now. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 There’s a heartening respect for the intelligence of the audience in this pocket of the media. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026 Nvidia's presence in the top 10 performers is especially heartening, considering the leading maker of AI chips has been in a frustrating position all year long . — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 That formula worked for Amazon MGM’s sci-fi dramedy Project Hail Mary earlier this year, another heartening success that was billed as a visual spectacle filmed specifically for IMAX. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026 Meanwhile, there’s more direct heartening news for beach areas in San Diego and across the state. — Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026 The Gentlemen’s Club, for all its odd and difficult convulsions, is a heartening step in a positive direction. — Mosi Reeves, VIBE.com, 22 June 2026 Cameras captured the heartening sight on the podium of Peter Bonnington, Hamilton’s former race engineer who now looks after Antonelli, standing in the middle of the two drivers. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026 That has not been a heartening process. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026

Verb

It’s been heartening to see conservative and religious leaders join Democrats to speak out against Hegseth’s proposal. — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 12 Oct. 2026 And so, it's been heartening to see already some efforts by people like Senator Sanders, Congressman Jayapal, Congressman Casar, to start thinking seriously about what that could look like here. — ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026 While much of Funny Money is tragic, the doc also presents some heartening family moments and interesting insights into your career. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026 Library funding survives, narrowly The night proved to be heartening for local library lovers. — Noah Daly august 20, Idaho Statesman, 20 Aug. 2026 At a time when drama has come to depend on celebrity leads and commercial hype, this bounty of understated excellence is heartening. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 What’s oddly heartening is the realization that Anderson doesn’t have all the answers. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 22 June 2026 All of the art is heartening—and very much at home. — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 18 June 2026 Cases where animals win are always heartening, especially when the animal happens to be the Ukraine’s national bird. — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartening

Adjective

Roche unveiled strong data from divarasib in non-small cell lung cancer, and Incyte showed promising results from INCB161734 in pancreatic cancer.

— Amanda Erickson, STAT, 27 Oct. 2026
One Mithril program reached promising results in mice within 18 months.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of promising

Adjective

The district was widely viewed as more favorable to Republicans following redistricting, but Singer expressed confidence that his support extends beyond GOP voters.

— Abby Dodge, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Having an audience will yield a favorable or adverse outcome, and that outcome hinges largely on one’s ability to impress, or at least satisfy, those who sit in judgment.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of favorable

Verb

Their advocacy resulted in Eric’s ID Law in Maryland and is now inspiring similar bills elsewhere.

— Jermaine F. Williams, Baltimore Sun, 27 Oct. 2026
Take a tour of Endeavour’s new home at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which features an awe-inspiring elevator ride, 115-foot slide and dozens of fun and educational exhibits.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of inspiring

Adjective

An exuberant pre-dawn sky — filled with large, bright stars, a luminous crescent moon, and blue and white swirls — dominates the landscape featuring a prominent cypress tree and distant hillside village.

— Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
But the only picture mode that comes close to being that bright also has a notably green bias and ramps up the fan noise to a level that almost anyone will consider intolerable.

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of bright

Adjective

The songs, decorations and rituals that once felt comforting can quietly tie themselves to painful experiences in your brain, which is why familiar cues sometimes trigger sadness instead of joy.

— Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Maque Choux Easily made with fresh or frozen sweet corn, this creamy Creole dish is a fast, comforting weeknight dinner.

— Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of comforting

Adjective

For those unfamiliar with Fielder’s career or filmmaking approach, his assent to award season hopeful — even frontrunner — has felt like welcoming a strange alien to a planet inhabited by the slick Hollywood establishment.

— Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
By the end, the stage had transformed into a portrait of renewal — a reminder that, even after tragedy, something hopeful can grow.

— Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of hopeful

Adjective

The character introduced as youthful comic relief became an enduring piece of the series’ optimistic picture of the future.

— Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026
Historic early voting numbers across metro Atlanta counties with dense AAPI populations has leaders optimistic that the community is voting in higher numbers than previous midterm elections.

— Riley Bunch, AJC.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of optimistic

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Style

“Heartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartening. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of heartening

adjective

verb

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