wholesome

adjective

ˈhōl-səm How to pronounce wholesome (audio)
Definition of wholesomenext
1
as in healthy
enjoying health and vigor a wholesome young woman in the prime of her life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in good
beneficial to the health of body or mind trying to eat a more wholesome diet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word wholesome distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of wholesome are hale, healthy, robust, sound, and well. While all these words mean "enjoying or indicative of good health," wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance.

a face with a wholesome glow

Where would hale be a reasonable alternative to wholesome?

Although the words hale and wholesome have much in common, hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

still hale at the age of eighty

When is it sensible to use healthy instead of wholesome?

In some situations, the words healthy and wholesome are roughly equivalent. However, healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease.

a healthy family

In what contexts can robust take the place of wholesome?

The synonyms robust and wholesome are sometimes interchangeable, but robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

a lively, robust little boy

When can sound be used instead of wholesome?

The meanings of sound and wholesome largely overlap; however, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

a sound heart

When could well be used to replace wholesome?

While the synonyms well and wholesome are close in meaning, well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

she has never been a well person

Example 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 wholesome The pair are partial to a strong brew, jam on toast and, for the green-thumbed Gromit, a spot of gardening, but their wholesome routine of gadget-testing and hedge-trimming is often turned upside down by a charismatic villain. — Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Feb. 2025 One of the most wholesome aspects of Kimes on Married to Medicine is her scenes with her daughter Alaura Kimes. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025 Rather than their wicked vices, most used the meme to show love to their most wholesome pleasures. — Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 This 90 Day Fiancé couple met in the most wholesome way, but there could be big issues on the way. — Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wholesome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wholesome
  1. healthy
  2. good
  3. well
  4. healthful
  5. robust
Adjective
  • The current ideal of a healthy, comfortable coupling has not been essential to the survival of the species.
    — Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Less than a week before the season opener, 38 healthy players remain in camp.
    — Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of healthy
Adjective
  • Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The city of Providence continues to be good to Pitino, who famously led Providence College to the Final Four in 1987 toward the beginning of his storied career.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of good
Adjective
  • Crockpots are still made well, as are, in my experience anyway, the more modernized version: Instant Pots.
    — Parker Hall, WIRED, 2 Feb. 2025
  • The witch’s magic is still MIA, but her attitude is well and truly back.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 19 Sep. 2024
Definition of well
Adjective
  • Ideally, this would be a dietitian who can help create a healthful eating plan.2 A long-term calcium and vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone-thinning conditions such as osteopenia or the more advanced osteoporosis.2 Some people may be able to tolerate a certain amount of lactose without symptoms.
    — Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin seeds are rich in MUFAs, PUFAs, and healthful compounds like cholesterol-lowering phytosterols and carotenoids, which support your skin and eyes.19 These seeds are a notable source of oleic acid, a healthy fat known for its anti-inflammatory effects.
    — Lauren O'Connor, MS, Health, 22 Jan. 2025
Definition of healthful
Adjective
  • International students and scholars were told that the United States is the land of free inquiry and expression, and that our world-class schools are sites of robust speech.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2025
  • This approach offers robust protection against data loss.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of robust

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Cite this Entry

“Wholesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wholesome. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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