Synonym Chooser

How is the word wholehearted distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of wholehearted are heartfelt, hearty, sincere, and unfeigned. While all these words mean "genuine in feeling," wholehearted suggests sincerity and earnest devotion without reservation or misgiving.

promised our wholehearted support

In what contexts can heartfelt take the place of wholehearted?

The meanings of heartfelt and wholehearted largely overlap; however, heartfelt suggests depth of genuine feeling outwardly expressed.

expresses our heartfelt gratitude

When would hearty be a good substitute for wholehearted?

In some situations, the words hearty and wholehearted are roughly equivalent. However, hearty suggests honesty, warmth, and exuberance in displaying feeling.

received a hearty welcome

Where would sincere be a reasonable alternative to wholehearted?

Although the words sincere and wholehearted have much in common, sincere stresses absence of hypocrisy, feigning, or any falsifying embellishment or exaggeration.

a sincere apology

When can unfeigned be used instead of wholehearted?

The words unfeigned and wholehearted can be used in similar contexts, but unfeigned stresses spontaneity and absence of pretense.

her unfeigned delight at receiving the award

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 wholehearted The government, too, under the Republican administrations of Presidents Harding, Coolidge and Hoover, shared this spirit of wholehearted materialism, boosting corporations and otherwise taking a light touch to policy that corresponded with the prevailing anti-government sentiment of the time. Lila Thulin, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 May 2021 Two first-year coaches in Bubba Lemon and Robert Key, whose teams have taken to them with wholehearted-belief early in their tenure. Shane Hoffmann, oregonlive, 12 Mar. 2023 Now, the GOP is struggling to negotiate Trump’s wholehearted embrace of fringe candidates. Sarah Midkiff, refinery29.com, 19 Aug. 2020 With Tehran’s utter rejection of Biden administration efforts for conciliation and its wholehearted embrace of Moscow, U.S. and Israeli views of Iran have become more aligned. Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 9 Jan. 2023 See all Example Sentences for wholehearted 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wholehearted
Adjective
  • An ideal scenario would see an enthusiastic new owner facilitate the building of a soccer-specific stadium in Vancouver.
    Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
  • Its official reception in the Soviet Union, however, was less enthusiastic due to Solzhenitsyn’s argument that the gulag system was not just an aberration under Stalin, but embedded deep in the rotting core of Soviet ideology.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • At the heart of President Carter’s public service was his fervent commitment to honoring the spark of divinity within every person.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 29 Dec. 2024
  • Ricketts had been a fervent fan of the team while receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Chicago and rooted heavily for Sosa in his captivating home run duel with McGwire and Ken Griffey Jr. in 1998.
    Phil Rogers, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The newlyweds wake up hungry after a passionate wedding night, which is when Mel remembers that Charmaine never did turn up yesterday.
    Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
  • But the importance of bird conservation does not start or end with one passionate 21-year-old.
    Eliza Principe Garcia, Baltimore Sun, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Since joining Donald Trump‘s inner circle, Elon Musk has increasingly flexed his political muscle, aggravating some of the president-elect’s most ardent supporters and increasing concerns over the high-profile billionaire’s growing influence.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Fandom for murder isn’t new either — the Columbine shooters, who murdered 13 people, have an ardent following.
    Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • But 47 has navigated those waters better than most, delivering some genuine interpersonal conflict and elevating a handful of satisfyingly devious characters including the initially hapless Andy Rueda and Keyser Söze-ian corporate lawyer Genevieve Mushaluk.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Even beyond the idea that an actual curse has befallen Ruby — or has befallen everyone with the bad luck (or judgment?) to have hooked up with her — Laid operates in an exaggerated version of reality where genuine human emotion has to jostle for space with cartoon plot logic.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near wholehearted

Cite this Entry

“Wholehearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wholehearted. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wholehearted

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!