de·lec·ta·ble
di-ˈlek-tə-bəl 
1
: highly pleasing : delightful
a delectable melody
2
: delicious
a delectable meal
: something that is highly pleasing or delicious
especially
: a delicious food item
pastries and other delectables
Synonyms
Examples of delectable in a Sentence
Adjective
The meals he prepares are always delectable.
one of the most delectable men she's ever met
Noun
a gourmet shop filled with delectables for every palate, albeit not for every pocketbook
Recent Examples on the Web
Esther Zuckerman, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Little Greene, an eco-friendly, family-run paint and wallpaper company, knows this: The brand just introduced its newest line inspired by the most delectable desserts.
—Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2024
Three Georges Chocolate Pecan Turtles Tin Based in Mobile, Alabama, Three Georges Fine Southern Chocolates has been making delectable candies for over a century.
—Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2024
Tulum has long been a favorite escape for Americans, with travelers drawn not just to the sunny Caribbean weather, paradisiacal beaches, and delectable eats, but also historical and natural wonders like the seaside Mayan ruins and crystal clear cenotes.
—Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2024
Best to order simply: dishes like the straightforward, well prepared short rib and a delectable sticky toffee cake for dessert.
—Laurie Werner, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Beyond showcasing her style, the SKIMS founder treated her followers to a sneak peek into her culinary experiences in Paris, featuring delectable croissants and tea.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Sacramento six-string jazz fixture and noted everywhere-man Ross Hammond just fired up a delectable new free afternoon Sunday Jazz series, debuting over President’s Day weekend, at the cozy confines of Old Soul 40 Acres on Broadway in Oak Park (4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
—Aaron Davis, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2024
The couple’s young daughter did her homework near the counter while Isaac and I sampled wild leeks prepared three different ways, mashed pumpkin, and a delectable roast mackerel.
—Helen Schulman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024
IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2011
As dancers dressed in Greek traditional attire entertained a crowd to the music of a live band at the Big Greek Food Fest of Niles Saturday evening, people patiently waited in long queues for gyros, lamb, Athenian chicken, appetizers and other delectables.
—Pioneer Press Staff, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2023
Shapiro, who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, launched the company in 2020 after a pandemic cooking experiment took off and kept rolling thanks to the popularity of his doughy delectables.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2023
This delectable, protein blend is composed of 80% Whey Protein Isolate and 20% Micellar Casein.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022
Lou Dallas’s delectable–and very missed–sensibility is clear in the pieces.
—Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 7 Nov. 2022
André Giroux used his fingers to manipulate the paint in the sky in delectable-on-all-counts Santa Trinità dei Monti in the Snow, from the late 1820s, a rarest-of-rare Roman snow scene.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 19 Mar. 2022
Hadid took to Instagram yesterday to share snapshots of delectable-looking bites she's indulged in while sheltering in place at her family's farm in Pennsylvania amid the coronavirus pandemic.
—Bianca Betancourt, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Aug. 2020
The camp fantasies of Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, and Julie Walters riding jet skis on a yacht is delectable, but the number lacks the pizazz of so many others.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 11 June 2020
Adjective
Anna Sorokin, the fake heiress shacking up at the finest hotels, to disgraced congressman George Santos, spending campaign funds on Botox, there’s something delectable about consuming the details of a grift — especially when there’s an aura of glamour around it.
—Esther Zuckerman, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Little Greene, an eco-friendly, family-run paint and wallpaper company, knows this: The brand just introduced its newest line inspired by the most delectable desserts.
—Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2024
Three Georges Chocolate Pecan Turtles Tin Based in Mobile, Alabama, Three Georges Fine Southern Chocolates has been making delectable candies for over a century.
—Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2024
Tulum has long been a favorite escape for Americans, with travelers drawn not just to the sunny Caribbean weather, paradisiacal beaches, and delectable eats, but also historical and natural wonders like the seaside Mayan ruins and crystal clear cenotes.
—Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2024
Best to order simply: dishes like the straightforward, well prepared short rib and a delectable sticky toffee cake for dessert.
—Laurie Werner, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Beyond showcasing her style, the SKIMS founder treated her followers to a sneak peek into her culinary experiences in Paris, featuring delectable croissants and tea.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Sacramento six-string jazz fixture and noted everywhere-man Ross Hammond just fired up a delectable new free afternoon Sunday Jazz series, debuting over President’s Day weekend, at the cozy confines of Old Soul 40 Acres on Broadway in Oak Park (4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
—Aaron Davis, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2024
The couple’s young daughter did her homework near the counter while Isaac and I sampled wild leeks prepared three different ways, mashed pumpkin, and a delectable roast mackerel.
—Helen Schulman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024
Noun
There’s a gourmet kitchen whose counters are heaped with delectables.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2011
As dancers dressed in Greek traditional attire entertained a crowd to the music of a live band at the Big Greek Food Fest of Niles Saturday evening, people patiently waited in long queues for gyros, lamb, Athenian chicken, appetizers and other delectables.
—Pioneer Press Staff, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2023
Shapiro, who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, launched the company in 2020 after a pandemic cooking experiment took off and kept rolling thanks to the popularity of his doughy delectables.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2023
This delectable, protein blend is composed of 80% Whey Protein Isolate and 20% Micellar Casein.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022
Lou Dallas’s delectable–and very missed–sensibility is clear in the pieces.
—Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 7 Nov. 2022
André Giroux used his fingers to manipulate the paint in the sky in delectable-on-all-counts Santa Trinità dei Monti in the Snow, from the late 1820s, a rarest-of-rare Roman snow scene.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 19 Mar. 2022
Hadid took to Instagram yesterday to share snapshots of delectable-looking bites she's indulged in while sheltering in place at her family's farm in Pennsylvania amid the coronavirus pandemic.
—Bianca Betancourt, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Aug. 2020
The camp fantasies of Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, and Julie Walters riding jet skis on a yacht is delectable, but the number lacks the pizazz of so many others.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 11 June 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'delectable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin delectabilis, from delectare to delight — more at delight
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1921, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of delectable was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near delectable
Cite this Entry
“Delectable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delectable. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
delectable
adjective
de·lec·ta·ble
di-ˈlek-tə-bəl
1
: highly pleasing : delightful
2
delectably
adverb
-blē
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