Nourished
adj.kind, hopefuleveryday
Meaning 1
Given enough food and nutrients to support health and growth.
Reach for it when describing a person, animal, or living thing whose physical needs for sustenance are being met
The nourished seedlings produced sturdy leaves within a week.
Choose between these
3- everyday
the evidence supports overall physical wellbeing
not when Health depends on far more than nourishment, so the broader claim may be unjustified.
- everyday
well-fed
the immediate point is that enough food has been eaten
not when Well-fed does not assess nutritional balance and can sound comic for an adult.
- professional
fortified
added nutrients or strength have improved the subject
not when Fortified describes an addition or strengthening process, not the resulting state of being adequately fed.
Meaning 2
Sustained or strengthened by emotional, intellectual, or spiritual care.
Reach for it when praising the effect of support that leaves someone inwardly resourced
After the unhurried visit, Lena felt nourished by friendship and honest conversation.
Choose between these
4- warm
patient care has helped a person or ability develop
not when Nurtured emphasizes development over time, while nourished can describe a single replenishing experience.
- professional
supported
practical or emotional help enables someone to continue
not when Supported identifies assistance but not whether it renewed the person's inner resources.
- formal
sustained
support has kept energy, purpose, or effort going over time
not when Sustained can mean merely continued without the restorative richness of feeling nourished.
- literary
replenished
energy or spirit has been restored after depletion
not when Replenished presumes an earlier lack and may not fit steady ongoing care.
Said against
3- malnourished
- starved
- depleted
It naturally appears in
3- well nourished
The rescued foal was soon well nourished and strong enough to join the herd.
- emotionally nourished
She felt emotionally nourished by a friendship built on candor and patience.
- properly nourished
Properly nourished trees recovered from the dry summer more quickly.
The word family
2Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective, definition 1 opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- wiktionary, English adjective, figurative sense opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.