savory 1 of 2

variants also savoury
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as in satisfying
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses having to fire someone was not a task that the manager found at all savory

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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savory

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noun

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of savory are appetizing, palatable, tasty, and toothsome. While all these words mean "agreeable or pleasant especially to the sense of taste," savory applies to both taste and aroma and suggests piquancy and often spiciness.

dumplings with savory fillings

When can appetizing be used instead of savory?

While in some cases nearly identical to savory, appetizing suggests a whetting of the appetite and applies to aroma and appearance as well as taste.

appetizing hors d'oeuvres

When could palatable be used to replace savory?

While the synonyms palatable and savory are close in meaning, palatable often applies to something that is found to be merely agreeable.

butterflies that birds find palatable

In what contexts can tasty take the place of savory?

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

a tart and tasty pie

Where would toothsome be a reasonable alternative to savory?

The meanings of toothsome and savory largely overlap; however, toothsome stresses the notion of agreeableness and sometimes implies tenderness or daintiness.

an enticing array of toothsome desserts

Example 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 savory
Adjective
The first course is a traditional croissant, just a few minutes out of the oven, then on to a savory, with menus rotating seasonally. Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 19 Dec. 2024 Enjoy an assortment of sweets, scones, savories, and petit fours alongside seasonal Churchill’s Tea selections and live holiday music. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
Both have sweet and fruity aromas that are great for iced tea, but can play well in savory contexts too (like Minty Chicken Meatballs). Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 July 2025 Turmeric, sometimes called Indian saffron, is often used in savory curries and soups. Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for savory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for savory
Adjective
  • During a nature walk, our guide collected common plants, botanicals, and aromatic herbs, sharing their therapeutic properties.
    Nina-Sophia Miralles, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • Cooking meat at high temperatures or in direct contact with a flame or a hot surface can produce carcinogens, including heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
    Brittany Poulson, People.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Pick up some bright red tomatoes for a salad, homemade soap, vegetables for a delicious dinner or fresh bread straight from the oven at your local market.
    Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
  • Since the lawyers meet to try the city’s best restaurant, there are plenty of close-ups of their meals and everything looks delicious.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • Many enthusiasts gravitate toward the elemental 356 A, which is desirous in the same way a thin, non-automatic watch movement can be more satisfying than that found in a complicated chronograph.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 5 July 2025
  • These Banh Mi meatball lettuce wraps taste equally healthy and satisfying.
    Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • Produced by Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in Nashville, Belle Meade Bourbon is a high-rye bourbon that offers a rich and spicy profile.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • On Thursday, July 10, the beloved Snack Wrap — available in spicy and ranch varieties — returns.
    Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • The final dish is finished with fresh herbs for brightness and more peppers for that unmistakable tang.
    Mary Claire Britton, Southern Living, 8 July 2025
  • Rich and opulent flavors include red cherries, herbs of Provence and red licorice.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • Cook for 1 minute, or until the herbs are fragrant.
    Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2025
  • Forming a slowly spreading colony of 24-inch-tall, gracefully arching stems, plants produce lightly fragrant white spring flowers that hang like little white bells from the underside of each stem.
    Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • Some users may want a smoother bokeh effect with a wider aperture, but the f/2 aperture on this lens produces a pleasing bokeh effect that isolates subjects.
    Harry Bennett, Space.com, 3 July 2025
  • There’s plenty pleasing the eye at the elegant restaurant adorned with shiny chandeliers, red velvet booths, a bountiful display of red roses, a red piano atop the bar, and art deco-inspired pieces on the walls.
    Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • My favorite dish here was a piquant ceviche served with tortilla chips.
    Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2025
  • And to think, this pitiless conquistador came to North America as a humble kitchen herb, deliberately imported by European settlers for its piquant flavor.
    Zoë Lescaze, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Savory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/savory. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

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