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Nourished

adj. kind, hopeful everyday

What it means

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.

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.

Words to choose between 7

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
everyday
warm
professional
formal
literary

Meaning 1: Given enough food and nutrients to support health and growth.

  • everyday

    healthy

    Fits when the evidence supports overall physical wellbeing

    Careful Health depends on far more than nourishment, so the broader claim may be unjustified.

  • everyday

    well-fed

    Fits when the immediate point is that enough food has been eaten

    Careful Well-fed does not assess nutritional balance and can sound comic for an adult.

  • professional

    fortified

    Fits when added nutrients or strength have improved the subject

    Careful 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.

  • warm

    nurtured

    Fits when patient care has helped a person or ability develop

    Careful Nurtured emphasizes development over time, while nourished can describe a single replenishing experience.

  • professional

    supported

    Fits when practical or emotional help enables someone to continue

    Careful Supported identifies assistance but not whether it renewed the person's inner resources.

  • formal

    sustained

    Fits when support has kept energy, purpose, or effort going over time

    Careful Sustained can mean merely continued without the restorative richness of feeling nourished.

  • literary

    replenished

    Fits when energy or spirit has been restored after depletion

    Careful Replenished presumes an earlier lack and may not fit steady ongoing care.

Opposites 3

  • malnourished
  • starved
  • depleted

Common phrases 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.

Word family 2

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated