WELL Synonyms: 504 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'well' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of well are hale , healthy , robust , sound , and wholesome . While all these words mean "enjoying or indicative of good health," well implies merely freedom from disease or illness. // she has never been a well person

Q: When could 'hale' be used to replace 'well'?

While the synonyms hale and well are close in meaning, hale applies particularly to robustness in old age. // still hale at the age of eighty

Q: Where would 'healthy' be a reasonable alternative to 'well'?

Although the words healthy and well have much in common, 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 'well'?

The words robust and well are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly. // a lively, robust little boy

Q: When is it sensible to use 'sound' instead of 'well'?

In some situations, the words sound and well are roughly equivalent. However, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction. // a sound heart

Q: When would 'wholesome' be a good substitute for 'well'?

While in some cases nearly identical to well , wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance. // a face with a wholesome glow

well 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of well

as in fine

in a satisfactory way our current system for dividing household chores works well, so let's keep it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in generously

in a generous manner a warm and gracious host who always treats guests well

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in masterfully

in a skillful or expert manner she plays the piano very well

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in kindly

with good reason or courtesy we cannot well get out of going to your cousin's wedding

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in nicely

in a pleasing way the day went well, despite the rough beginning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in perfectly

to a full extent or degree we are well aware that this home renovation is going to be costly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in smoothly

without difficulty he can well afford to spare the time

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

well

2 of 4

interjection

as in oh

how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable well, that is odd!

Synonyms & Similar Words

well

3 of 4

noun

ˈwel

as in source

a point or place at which something is invented or provided his quirkily dysfunctional family proved to be a bottomless well of inspiration for the novelist

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as in pool

a small often deep body of water the spot where the spring bubbles up to the surface and forms a deep well

Synonyms & Similar Words

well

4 of 4

adjective

as in healthy

enjoying health and vigor my mother is quite well, thank you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word well distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of well are hale, healthy, robust, sound, and wholesome. While all these words mean "enjoying or indicative of good health," well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

she has never been a well person

When could hale be used to replace well?

While the synonyms hale and well are close in meaning, hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

still hale at the age of eighty

Where would healthy be a reasonable alternative to well?

Although the words healthy and well have much in common, 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 well?

The words robust and well are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

a lively, robust little boy

When is it sensible to use sound instead of well?

In some situations, the words sound and well are roughly equivalent. However, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

a sound heart

When would wholesome be a good substitute for well?

While in some cases nearly identical to well, wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance.

a face with a wholesome glow

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 well

Adverb

Those tests should reveal how well the modular architecture performs once individual components operate as part of a complete launcher. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 Libra September 23 – October 22 A relationship works better when your needs enter the room early. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Interjection

In addition to having to replace the electronics and rework a telescope someone else built, the Roman team had to learn about the telescope with some, well, restrictions. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026 In terms of features that are specific to the phone's foldable form factor, well, there's not enough to write about as far as I am concerned. — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

Noun

But the army came and took me and arrested me and left the settlers there to break the gate to the well and allow their goats to drink from it. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 Ever since Bob Dylan cut Nashville Skyline in 1969, rockers have been going to Music City to refresh their sounds, kick it with the world’s best session pros, and drink deep the rejuvenating well of local realness. — Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The detox helps remove build up from well water or any kind of minerals. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026 Get well Dodger friend and may God bless you and your family. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for well

Recent Examples of Synonyms for well

Adverb

Concerning her daughter’s hiatus, her mother, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, reassured fans that Sophia is doing fine and finding ways to keep herself busy.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Drugstore shampoos work just fine, if not, better than some of their more expensive counterparts.

— Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of fine

Adverb

Yet Parton masterfully stayed out of every fight in the culture wars, preaching love, philanthropy, mentorship and tolerance until her dying breath.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Every spoonful is masterfully balanced, slicking your lips with moreish flavor.

— The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of masterfully

Adverb

As for Apple, Amazon and Sony, all three companies have strong technology businesses in addition to theatrical and streaming content, which may align nicely with Imax's tech-heavy business.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
None of this would worry me if the systems failed loudly, but a model out of its depth returns fluent, confident and nicely formatted text that happens to be wrong.

— Faisal Saeed, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of nicely

Adverb

Before Gould arrived, Gates’s team spent the day installing — making sure every bedspread, headboard, desk arrangement, lamp and, of course, the umbrella were perfectly in place.

— Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Mia Wasikowska perfectly embodies the role of Agata, a writer returning to her home continent, seeking to understand and reconnect with the wounds of the recent past, and with the ways in which unresolved conflicts continue to echo in the present.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of perfectly

Adverb

Just because the gaps are closed and everything is buttoned up, there are no guarantees everything will go smoothly once the peak season arrives.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
The 27-inch Odyssey G3 keeps your study desk and gaming setup running smoothly with an ultrafast 180-hertz refresh rate and 1ms response time.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of smoothly

Cite this Entry

Style

“Well.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of well

adverb

interjection

noun

adjective

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