wholehearted

adjective

whole·​heart·​ed ˈhōl-ˈhär-təd How to pronounce wholehearted (audio)
Synonyms of wholehearted
1
: completely and sincerely devoted, determined, or enthusiastic
a wholehearted student of social problems
2
: marked by complete earnest commitment : free from all reserve or hesitation
gave the proposal wholehearted approval
wholeheartedly adverb

Synonyms of wholehearted

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sincere, wholehearted, heartfelt, hearty, unfeigned mean genuine in feeling.

sincere stresses absence of hypocrisy, feigning, or any falsifying embellishment or exaggeration.

a sincere apology

wholehearted suggests sincerity and earnest devotion without reservation or misgiving.

promised our wholehearted support

heartfelt suggests depth of genuine feeling outwardly expressed.

expresses our heartfelt gratitude

hearty suggests honesty, warmth, and exuberance in displaying feeling.

received a hearty welcome

unfeigned stresses spontaneity and absence of pretense.

her unfeigned delight at receiving the award

Examples of wholehearted in a Sentence

The judges gave us their wholehearted approval. wholehearted praise for the novel by the leading critics
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
My return, which at first had been hesitant and tentative, grew wholehearted and sure. — Tilda Wilson, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 This wholehearted embrace of my fandom might not sound like the retirement goal of someone who has worked with hundreds of clients on their finances. — Bernadette Joy, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 The only thing this movie takes seriously is its wholehearted commitment to absurdity. — ABC News, 8 July 2026 For potentially resetting everyone's expectations around what a budget laptop can and should be, the MacBook Neo earns a wholehearted Editors' Choice award. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wholehearted

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wholehearted was in 1644

Rhymes for wholehearted

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Browse Nearby Words

whole grain
wholehearted
wholeheartedly
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Cite this Entry

“Wholehearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wholehearted. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wholehearted

adjective
whole·​heart·​ed ˈhōl-ˈhärt-əd How to pronounce wholehearted (audio)
: not lacking in enthusiasm, determination, or devotion : hearty
wholehearted effort
wholeheartedly adverb
wholeheartedness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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