as in snacks
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 appetizers
Some said a restaurant serving drinks might be acceptable, while a bar with appetizers may not.
—
Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
These little gems will be one of the first appetizers to disappear.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Deals on appetizers, including wings, tacos, fries and more.
—Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
For Ashley Ellis and her friends, the thought first hatched over wine and appetizers one night.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
The event also included gourmet appetizers, craft cocktails, live music and guest speakers, including county District Attorney Summer Stephan.
—La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The menu includes other appetizers from the grill like chorizo, sweetbreads and romanesco and raw bar selections like beef or tuna tartare, octopus carpaccio, hamachi and oysters.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Lunch opens with an aged white tea scented with orange peel and red dates prepared by one of the restaurant’s tea sommeliers, followed by a trio of precise appetizers, including a silky square of chicken topped with a carpet of impossibly finely cut chives.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Sophomore Joseph Boi Thang handles the protein, junior Paola Silverio-Chino prepares the entrees, and junior Vanessa Martinez is in charge of the appetizers.
—Kaley Fedko, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
These little gems will be one of the first appetizers to disappear.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Deals on appetizers, including wings, tacos, fries and more.
—Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
For Ashley Ellis and her friends, the thought first hatched over wine and appetizers one night.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
The event also included gourmet appetizers, craft cocktails, live music and guest speakers, including county District Attorney Summer Stephan.
—La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The menu includes other appetizers from the grill like chorizo, sweetbreads and romanesco and raw bar selections like beef or tuna tartare, octopus carpaccio, hamachi and oysters.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Lunch opens with an aged white tea scented with orange peel and red dates prepared by one of the restaurant’s tea sommeliers, followed by a trio of precise appetizers, including a silky square of chicken topped with a carpet of impossibly finely cut chives.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Sophomore Joseph Boi Thang handles the protein, junior Paola Silverio-Chino prepares the entrees, and junior Vanessa Martinez is in charge of the appetizers.
—Kaley Fedko, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appetizers
Noun
-
Pick up supplies at the nearby campground store, which also carries snacks and ice.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
-
Each additional piece of luggage incurred a separate cost, as did snacks, as did legroom.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The menu features craft cocktails, beer, wine, and a handful of light bites—Lili’s Martini, a lychee-and-lemon take on the classic cocktail, is the standout drink.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
In rare cases, it can be spread through rodent bites or scratches, according to the CDC.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
They are used to replace the tastes and textures of high-calorie foods while providing fewer calories.—
Ashley Olivine,
Verywell Health,
11 May 2026
-
The month of May continues, which means a plethora of sporting options to suit your viewing tastes.—
Lukas Weese,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The only nibbles came from a handful of Division II or Division III programs.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
Suites elevate the experience with more space, walk-in closets, upgraded bathrooms, and, for Neptune Suite guests, exclusive access to a private lounge, serving nibbles and drinks throughout the day.—
Aaron Saunders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The possibility of a Chase and Taylor flirtation causing a rift with Miranda is briefly raised and just as swiftly quashed — through large mouthfuls of chips and salsa, Taylor assures Miranda at the sip-and-see that there is no there there.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
-
But now, the future of Lucille’s American Cafe, a Weston comfort-food institution serving up mouthfuls of nostalgia since 1999, is unclear.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Appetizers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appetizers. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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