HEALTHFUL Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'healthful' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of healthful are salubrious , salutary , and wholesome . While all these words mean "favorable to the health of mind or body," healthful implies a positive contribution to a healthy condition. // a healthful diet

Q: When might 'salubrious' be a better fit than 'healthful'?

While in some cases nearly identical to healthful , salubrious applies chiefly to the helpful effects of climate or air. // cool and salubrious weather

Q: When can 'salutary' be used instead of 'healthful'?

The words salutary and healthful can be used in similar contexts, but salutary describes something corrective or beneficially effective, even though it may in itself be unpleasant. // a salutary warning that resulted in increased production

Q: When is 'wholesome' a more appropriate choice than 'healthful'?

The synonyms wholesome and healthful are sometimes interchangeable, but wholesome applies to what benefits, builds up, or sustains physically, mentally, or spiritually. // wholesome foods // the movie is wholesome family entertainment

healthful

adjective

ˈhelth-fəl

Definition of healthful next

as in healthy

beneficial to the health of body or mind one of the most healthful forms of exercise is a brisk walk

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective healthful contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of healthful are salubrious, salutary, and wholesome. While all these words mean "favorable to the health of mind or body," healthful implies a positive contribution to a healthy condition.

a healthful diet

When might salubrious be a better fit than healthful?

While in some cases nearly identical to healthful, salubrious applies chiefly to the helpful effects of climate or air.

cool and salubrious weather

When can salutary be used instead of healthful?

The words salutary and healthful can be used in similar contexts, but salutary describes something corrective or beneficially effective, even though it may in itself be unpleasant.

a salutary warning that resulted in increased production

When is wholesome a more appropriate choice than healthful?

The synonyms wholesome and healthful are sometimes interchangeable, but wholesome applies to what benefits, builds up, or sustains physically, mentally, or spiritually.

wholesome foods

the movie is wholesome family entertainment

Examples 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 healthful Kennedy's focus on healthful foods drew some praise from other senators. —

Peter Sullivan, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024 Consumers and farmers who want to be part of a more healthful future may wonder about alternatives to intensive animal farming. —

Seema Policepatil, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024 Unfortunately, healthful eaters are a tiny minority in this country, as our diets focus mainly on ultra-processed garbage that is anything but healthful. —

Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 31 Oct. 2024 But my hope is that, in the not-so-distant future, World Food Day will actually be a day to celebrate a transformed food system that nourishes us all with equitable, accessible, affordable, healthful, delicious meals. —

Danielle Nierenberg, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for healthful