Did you know?
English offers a smorgasbord of words for nonsense, some of which are better known as words for food. We have baloney, spinach, rhubarb, and toffee, not to mention full of beans. And if none of those offerings are to your taste, you can say that's pure banana oil! Seemingly innocuous applesauce was first introduced to this menu back in the early 20th century. Back then, there may have been some bias against the real stuff. Poet Wallace Stevens’s turn-of-the-century description of a meal consisting of "some unnameable smathering of greasy fritters . . . and of course the inevictable applesauce" shows a lack of respect that must have been shared by others.
Synonyms of applesauce
Examples of applesauce in a Sentence
Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
Thursday April 2* Easter Lunch, Ham Steak, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, whole grain roll, applesauce, milk.
—Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Whether for noshing in their natural, juicy and delicious form, or for turning into any number of tasty dishes—applesauce, apple pie, apple butter, and so many more—apples are a relatively inexpensive fruit that typically have a decent shelf life and convenience factor that’s hard to beat.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Items like mac and cheese cups, peanut butter, soup, ramen, Slim Jims, pudding cups and applesauce are always needed —anything a child can open and eat.
—Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for applesauce
Cite this Entry
“Applesauce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/applesauce. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
applesauce
noun
