WHOLESOME Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

wholesome

adjective

ˈhōl-səm

Definition of wholesome next

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

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 While the Bronx Zoo's Name-a-Roach campaign is a bit more wholesome, the San Antonio Zoo's fundraiser, Cry Me a Cockroach, is anything but that. —

Julia Gomez, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026 The Solomons said Meta got it wrong and only wholesome content is featured. —

Mary Eber, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026 Seth Rogen is—wait for it—Canadian, and sounds so wholesome as to be immediately suspect. —

Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026 While there’s no official brand partnership at the moment, viewers have continued tagging the beverage giant in hopes the wholesome clip might catch the company’s eye. —

Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wholesome

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wholesome

Adjective

Last Thursday, the league issued a $500,000 fine to the Utah Jazz and a $100,000 penalty to the Indiana Pacers for sitting healthy players, believing their apparent tanking actions compromised the league's competitive integrity.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
Because in order to simply be safe during our sport, while expecting a certain level of performance, our bodies need to be healthy.

— Frederick Dreier, Outside, 14 Feb. 2026

Definition of healthy

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wholesaling

wholesome

wholesomeness

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“Wholesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wholesome. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 15 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of wholesome

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