Definition of TOOTHSOME

Choose the Right Synonym for toothsome

palatable, appetizing, savory, tasty, toothsome 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 appetizing suggests a whetting of the appetite and applies to aroma and appearance as well as taste. appetizing hors d'oeuvres savory applies to both taste and aroma and suggests piquancy and often spiciness. dumplings with savory fillings tasty implies a pronounced taste. a tart and tasty pie toothsome stresses the notion of agreeableness and sometimes implies tenderness or daintiness. an enticing array of toothsome desserts

Did You Know?

One meaning of tooth is "a fondness or taste for something specified." Toothsome comes from this definition of tooth plus the suffix -some, meaning "characterized by." Although toothsome was at first used to describe general attractiveness, it quickly developed a second sense that was specific to the sense of taste (perhaps because from as far back as Chaucer’s time, tooth could also refer specifically to eating and the sense of taste). In addition, toothsome is now showing signs of acquiring a third sense, toothy (as in "a toothsome grin"), but this sense is not yet established enough to qualify for dictionary entry.

Examples of toothsome in a Sentence

the movie star and his supermodel girlfriend are considered the most toothsome couple in Hollywood

Recent Examples on the Web

Well, turns out this toothsome leafy green is also pretty good for your face. — Garrett Munce, GQ, "The Best Sheet Masks Will Reboot Your Face," 2 Mar. 2018 But, let’s be real, most veggie-centric tacos lack the qualities that make the meaty versions great: that juicy, toothsome texture and deep umami flavor. — Danielle Walsh, Bon Appetit, "A Vegetarian Chorizo Taco That Actually Tastes Like, Well, Chorizo," 13 Apr. 2017 Har gow, shrimp dumplings in a thick, toothsome translucent wrapper, were another basic item done very well. — Kate Washington, sacbee, "Dining review: Yue Huang in Natomas ranks among the best in Sacramento area for dim sum | The Sacramento Bee," 27 Oct. 2017 Once roasted, serve your carrots over a golden, turmeric yogurt sauce, and sprinkle a mix of salted pumpkin seeds and mixed herbs on top for a toothsome crunch. — Folgers®simply Gourmet™, Bon Appetit, "These Indian-Inspired Dishes Will Take You on a Flavor Trip, No Passport Required," 1 Sep. 2017 A host of cities and towns have adopted this delicious fruit (which, by the way, is not technically a berry) as their toothsome icon of excellence. — Logan Jenkins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "On Memorial Day Weekend, hearts are at half-staff but spirits light," 26 May 2017 But, let’s be real, most veggie-centric tacos lack the qualities that make the meaty versions great: that juicy, toothsome texture and deep umami flavor. — Danielle Walsh, Bon Appetit, "A Vegan Chorizo Taco That Actually Tastes Like, Well, Chorizo," 13 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'toothsome.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.