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 It is easily avoided by replacing it with the many other affordable and healthful options on the market. — AVIV JOSHUA, MS, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD Who Should Avoid It? Aviv Joshua, Verywell Health, 7 Oct. 2024 Other aspects of overall health for people with IBD include following a healthful diet, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and seeing healthcare providers on a regular basis for other screenings and care. Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2024 Eating a well-balanced, healthful diet can definitely reduce your risk. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024 This summer, Florida Atlantic University researchers published a study in the Journal of Urban Health showing that redlining still affects how much older residents walk during the summer, a healthful activity in moderate temperatures but a potential hazard in extreme heat. Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for healthful 

Thesaurus Entries Near healthful

Cite this Entry

“Healthful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/healthful. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on healthful

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