salutary

adjective

sal·​u·​tary ˈsal-yə-ˌter-ē 

1

: producing a beneficial effect : remedial

salutary influences

2

: promoting health : curative

salutarily

ˌsal-yə-ˈter-ə-lē 

adverb

salutariness

ˈsal-yə-ˌter-ē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• advantageous
• benefic
• beneficent
• beneficial
• benignant
• favorable
• friendly
• good
• helpful
• kindly
• profitable

Choose the Right Synonym for salutary

healthful, wholesome, salubrious, salutary mean favorable to the health of mind or body.

healthful implies a positive contribution to a healthy condition.

a healthful diet

wholesome applies to what benefits, builds up, or sustains physically, mentally, or spiritually.

wholesome foods

the movie is wholesome family entertainment

salubrious applies chiefly to the helpful effects of climate or air.

cool and salubrious weather

salutary describes something corrective or beneficially effective, even though it may in itself be unpleasant.

a salutary warning that resulted in increased production

Examples of salutary in a Sentence

The accident should be a salutary lesson to be more careful.

the low interest rates should have a salutary effect on business

Recent Examples on the Web

The price surge had the salutary effect of easing the government’s debt burden, and the nation’s budget went into surplus for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis. —Dylan Matthews, Vox, 2 Jan. 2025

Regulatory attempts like these reveal that salutary intentions and the realities of the market do not always align, and cast into doubt the feasibility of wholesale revolution in a food supply dependent on unhealthy food. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

This is often celebrated as another salutary effect of creating jobs for people’s spouses. —Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2024

To that end, the ever-gracious Greene always made a point of connecting people, but more in a salutary way than a pushy way. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French salutaire, from Latin salutaris, from salut-, salus health

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

salutary

adjective

sal·​u·​tary ˈsal-yə-ˌter-ē 

1

: producing a good result

2

: furthering good health

salutariness noun

Medical Definition

salutary

adjective

sal·​u·​tary ˈsal-yə-ˌter-ē 

: promoting health : curative