1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heartening
Book Marks
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
His investment in Rudy’s morality lends the exemplary legal saga a heartening, tender air.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Aug. 2025
Perhaps the most heartening aspect of creating the object at the center of the stop-motion sequence — the clockwork heart — was that it was put together the traditional way.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Gordon’s emergence has been both heartening and necessary, with injuries temporarily sidelining De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Advertisement The trends in the report are heartening for Americans’ health, and, not for nothing, good news too for the marketers who supply the balls, helmets, paddles, and bats that keep us out on the greens, courts, tracks, and fields.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
At any rate, being able to planet hunt in such close (in cosmic terms) proximity is heartening to scientists.
—David Szondy
august 14, New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2025
Their answers are actually heartening.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
The company has had such a long and challenging road over more than a decade; the prospect of their success should be heartening to the commercial space industry.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The story of her success is a heartening one.
—Book Marks
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
His investment in Rudy’s morality lends the exemplary legal saga a heartening, tender air.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Aug. 2025
Perhaps the most heartening aspect of creating the object at the center of the stop-motion sequence — the clockwork heart — was that it was put together the traditional way.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
The online response is beyond anything Powell expected, but it's been heartening to see just how many people around the world are supportive of Joey.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Gordon’s emergence has been both heartening and necessary, with injuries temporarily sidelining De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Advertisement The trends in the report are heartening for Americans’ health, and, not for nothing, good news too for the marketers who supply the balls, helmets, paddles, and bats that keep us out on the greens, courts, tracks, and fields.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
At any rate, being able to planet hunt in such close (in cosmic terms) proximity is heartening to scientists.
—David Szondy
august 14, New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2025
Their answers are actually heartening.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
The company has had such a long and challenging road over more than a decade; the prospect of their success should be heartening to the commercial space industry.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartening
Adjective
-
If the Panthers were to regress, how could that be viewed as promising or successful?—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The procedure, known as xenotransplantation – transplanting organs, tissues or cells from one species to another – is seen as the most promising way to meet the need of patients waiting desperately for an organ to become available.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
There was a brief period towards the end of last season when Destiny Udogie was preferred for high-profile matches, but Spence’s performances under Frank have been encouraging.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Waller’s gait appeared normal in the locker room Friday, which was an encouraging sign.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
So, all in all, hair questions seem like a favorable thing.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Political stability, a favorable family-office regime, independent courts, and Mandarin fluency made Singapore a natural draw for China's super-rich.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Zaldivar said in an age where more people are turning away from their faith, the declaration of the young saints is inspiring to many Catholics looking towards the future of the church.—
Lauren Costantino
September 6,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Reynolds credited Bullock — and how the star handles her career and public persona — with inspiring him to overcome a difficult period in his own life around 2014.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Pixel’s Magic Editor leverages generative AI tools, which can remove objects in the background, alter lighting, and realistically change the entire mood of a phone (a bright middary sun can easily be compensated for).—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Academy graduate Charlie Tasker is a bright prospect.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Pippa writes with such a comforting wit that her books are like a sweet treat in book format.—
Tessa Bailey,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
This Netflix romance is as comforting as a bowl of creamy butternut squash soup.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Things seemed to be going Sporting KC’s way in the first half of a Sunday night matchup with fellow Western Conference playoff hopeful Austin FC.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
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Our narrator, a gay, happily married father of two disentangling himself from a poly love affair, is—depending on the light—brilliant, self-mythologizing, abject, hopeful, and vulnerable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Perhaps Vrabel knew something optimistic fans did not know.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Klarna was unusually optimistic about AI’s capabilities.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heartening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartening. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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