as in snack
a small dish of food served before the main part of a meal
Shrimp with cocktail sauce were served as an appetizer.
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Recent Examples of appetizer
Consider dietary restrictions, lean into appetizers and do not skip dessert and coffee.
—
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
Normally the picture of sprezzatura, he had been reduced to a chain-smoking bundle of nerves during the cocktail hour and appetizer course.
—Julia Vitale, Air Mail, 13 June 2026
Make sure to get the Bully Bites (gator tail for the uninitiated) as an appetizer.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Aim for balance and flow with an appetizer, main dish, and side—maybe something fresh, something warm, and something cozy.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for appetizer
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
Normally the picture of sprezzatura, he had been reduced to a chain-smoking bundle of nerves during the cocktail hour and appetizer course.
—Julia Vitale, Air Mail, 13 June 2026
Make sure to get the Bully Bites (gator tail for the uninitiated) as an appetizer.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Aim for balance and flow with an appetizer, main dish, and side—maybe something fresh, something warm, and something cozy.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for appetizer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appetizer
Noun
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An all-day menu is also available—whether for a sit-down lunch, or just snacks by the pool—with mezze-type foods like tabbouleh, tomato salad, feta with olives and grapes, and garlic fries, as well as larger plates like a fennel and beef burger and a sardine pie.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
21 June 2026
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To make matters more challenging, the proteinmaxxing trend has completely saturated the market with new consumer brands trying to enter the space by putting protein in snack foods beyond bars and powders.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
Noun
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The family says that 80% to 90% of their clientele are people originally from the state who are seeking a taste of home.—
Daniel Hernandez,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
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The classic and irresistible pairing of fat and acid is nothing short of genius; the butter that makes the sauce taste so rich and creamy is perfectly tempered by the vinegar that adds a signature tang to the hot sauce.—
Gretchen McKay,
Boston Herald,
24 June 2026
Noun
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Aguirre hoped his team would shake off nerves following the emotional opener at Azteca Stadium and show more bite in its second game against South Korea, but his team didn’t have much power behind its attack during the game’s first 45 minutes.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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Nosh on lamb skewers or savor bites of sweet plantains.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Noun
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But cases are on the rise as more people report symptoms such as hives, diarrhea and itchiness after eating as little as a mouthful of meat and — in some cases — dairy.—
Matthew Perrone,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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But cases are on the rise as more people report symptoms such as hives, diarrhea and itchiness after eating as little as a mouthful of meat and — in some cases — dairy.—
Matthew Perrone,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
Noun
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For pre-dinner drinks and nibbles, a table on the terrace at Le 300 is in high demand.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
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The match will be shown on the museum’s South Terrace, with drinks for sale from the museum’s Park View Bar, and nibbles from its Bourke Street Bakery popup, featuring Australian and American traditional and classic treats.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appetizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appetizer. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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