salutary

IPA/ˈsæljətri/
KK[sˈæljətˌɛri]IPA/ˈsæljəteri/

salutary — adjective

  • salutarypositive
  • more salutarycomparative
  • most salutarysuperlative

1. describing an unpleasant or difficult experience that teaches someone something

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describing an unpleasant or difficult experience that teaches someone something valuable or makes them a better person — for example, failing a test can be a salutary lesson if it makes you study more carefully.

例句

Daichi found the critique harsh but salutary — it turned him into a much better designer.

contrastive: harsh but salutary

The company's financial loss was a salutary warning about the dangers of rapid expansion.

collocation: salutary warning

同義詞
  • beneficial

    broader term for anything good for someone; lacks the 'unpleasant-but-helpful' nuance

  • instructive

    focuses on teaching a lesson rather than improving character

  • corrective

    emphasises fixing a specific fault or mistake

反義詞
  • harmful

    describes something that causes damage rather than improvement

  • counterproductive

    describes an action that produces the opposite of the desired effect

文法句型

salutary + noun

be + salutary

用法筆記

Frequently modifies nouns like 'lesson', 'warning', 'experience', or 'shock'. The subject is typically an unpleasant event (failure, criticism, loss), not a person — you cannot say 'a salutary person'.

常見錯誤

❌The failure was a salutary feeling.
✅The failure was a salutary experience.
💡'salutary' pairs with 'lesson', 'warning', or 'experience', not with emotions like 'feeling'.
❌She is a salutary manager.
✅The manager's feedback was salutary.
💡'salutary' describes events or outcomes, not people directly.

2. having a positive effect on physical health, typically in a gradual or restorati

2.形容詞C1
釋義

having a positive effect on physical health, typically in a gradual or restorative way — for example, a change in diet or climate that makes someone feel healthier over time.

例句

A salutary diet of leafy greens and lean protein helped Otis lower his cholesterol within three months.

collocation: salutary diet

A morning walk by the sea had a salutary effect on Ada's chronic back pain.

collocation: salutary effect on

同義詞
  • healthful

    similar register and meaning, but 'healthful' is more common in American English

  • restorative

    focuses on restoring strength or health after illness or tiredness

  • wholesome

    broader — includes moral and social health, not just physical

反義詞
  • unhealthy

    describes something that damages physical well-being

  • harmful

    broader term for anything that causes damage, including to health

文法句型

salutary + noun

用法筆記

Typically modifies nouns related to health: 'effect', 'diet', 'climate', 'regimen'. Less common in everyday speech than simpler synonyms like 'healthy' or 'good for you'.

常見錯誤

❌This medicine tastes salutary.
✅This medicine has a salutary effect on my cough.
💡'salutary' describes the health outcome, not a physical sensation like taste or smell.