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as in pleasant
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses I always associate the palatable aroma of roasting turkey with Thanksgiving

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word palatable different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of palatable are appetizing, savory, tasty, and toothsome. While all these words mean "agreeable or pleasant especially to the sense of taste," palatable often applies to something that is found to be merely agreeable.

butterflies that birds find palatable

When could appetizing be used to replace palatable?

In some situations, the words appetizing and palatable are roughly equivalent. However, appetizing suggests a whetting of the appetite and applies to aroma and appearance as well as taste.

appetizing hors d'oeuvres

When would savory be a good substitute for palatable?

The meanings of savory and palatable largely overlap; however, savory applies to both taste and aroma and suggests piquancy and often spiciness.

dumplings with savory fillings

When is it sensible to use tasty instead of palatable?

The words tasty and palatable can be used in similar contexts, but tasty implies a pronounced taste.

a tart and tasty pie

In what contexts can toothsome take the place of palatable?

While the synonyms toothsome and palatable are close in meaning, toothsome stresses the notion of agreeableness and sometimes implies tenderness or daintiness.

an enticing array of toothsome desserts

Examples 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 palatable Chu’s Wicked uncovers something stark and dark about America, throw in apartheid South Africa too, and there are other instances as well, and turns a mirror on ourselves with a palette that’s palatable. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2025 Thankfully, Audi has enabled the driver to choose their level of regenerative braking to make using the function more palatable. Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024 Budget Suárez and Luzardo for a palatable 140 innings apiece, then there’s 80 left for Painter. Matt Gelb, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025 Sliced up on my salad, per Debbie’s advice, was much more palatable. Sidney Steele, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for palatable 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palatable
Adjective
  • There weren’t historical castles, pleasant hills, or the familiar scenes of chanting fans and players warming up around him.
    Henry Flynn, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The restaurant is decidedly small, a pleasant change of scenery for Charlotte, where large, echoey restaurants have become so commonplace.
    Samantha Husted, Charlotte Observer, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Making delicious meals at home shouldn’t come at the expense of your sanity.
    Averi Baudler, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Shakers Bar & Grill serves delicious fish and barbecued meats to a spirited mix of locals and tourists on the patio of a traditional wooden house.
    Patrick Scott, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Sunshine combines with Barbie pink and lemon meringue walls to brighten up the space, while tasteful midcentury-modern furniture keeps it from leaning too hard into the Instagram aesthetic.
    Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Set in a 1916 residence, the inn pays homage to history but is outfitted in clean, tasteful, and modern finishes with a focus on comfort.
    Susan Hall Mahon, Southern Living, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • This unusual formula brings together the richness of fruit and the delicate flower notes. Passport: Explore the finest destinations and experiences around the world in the Forbes Passport newsletter.
    Laia Farran Graves, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
  • After whiffing on Juan Soto earlier this offseason, Santander would be a fine consolation prize.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Known for decades as FedEx Field, the stadium developed a reputation as hard to get to, hard to leave thanks to crushing traffic, expensive and not exactly aesthetically pleasing.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 18 Jan. 2025
  • This can prompt a decision to name the baby after a grandparent or choose a name that is pleasing to a grandparent.
    Mia Taylor, Parents, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Full & Thick 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner $12 at Target $10 at Native TikTok, with its algorithmic obsession with the absurd, thrives on these edible beauty launches.
    Boutayna Chokrane, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Nasturtiums are top performers in garden beds and containers and are noted for their hummingbird attraction and edible leaves and flowers.
    Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Sitting at the desk, which was outlined by windows on three sides, made answering emails equal parts delightful and distracting.
    Alexandra Cheney, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2025
  • In addition to being a delightful romance, Saving Face is also a fantastic rumination on the labyrinthine relationship between mother and daughter.
    Sadie Collins, Them, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But the federal investigation was not satisfactory to many of King’s family members and associates, who knew of the FBI’s years-long investigation of the minister, and Director J. Edgar Hoover’s obsession with him as a potential communist influence.
    Andy Rose, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
  • By applying enough pressure now, the thinking goes, Ukraine and its backers can enter talks from a favorable position, and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be forced to engage in good-faith negotiations that end in a satisfactory settlement.
    Alexandra Prokopenko, Foreign Affairs, 21 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Palatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palatable. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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