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
The biggest football night of the year has fans ready to sit, eat appetizers, place bets, sing-a-long and have no further commitments.
—
Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Courses will include appetizers like crispy bang bang shrimp, two-handroll sets, two-piece nigiri sets and two glasses of prosecco.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2026
Thai appetizers include pot-stickers, edamame, fresh spring rolls, crab rangoons, egg rolls and Lao spicy sausage.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Jan. 2026
Two popular appetizers are truffle and prosciutto deviled eggs and oysters with cucumber mignonette, Britton said.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
Burgers and fries are also on the menu alongside sandwiches, wraps and appetizers.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2026
Order appetizers or drinks as well.
—Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Jan. 2026
Look for elevated cocktails and a small menu of appetizers, sandwiches, and small plates.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 21 Jan. 2026
There will be four stages with continuous live music programming, Charshiya Artisan Market for handmade crafts and complimentary appetizers from the Southeast European countries such as Greece, Albania, Serbia, Romania and Croatia.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Courses will include appetizers like crispy bang bang shrimp, two-handroll sets, two-piece nigiri sets and two glasses of prosecco.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2026
Thai appetizers include pot-stickers, edamame, fresh spring rolls, crab rangoons, egg rolls and Lao spicy sausage.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Jan. 2026
Two popular appetizers are truffle and prosciutto deviled eggs and oysters with cucumber mignonette, Britton said.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
Burgers and fries are also on the menu alongside sandwiches, wraps and appetizers.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2026
Order appetizers or drinks as well.
—Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Jan. 2026
Look for elevated cocktails and a small menu of appetizers, sandwiches, and small plates.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 21 Jan. 2026
There will be four stages with continuous live music programming, Charshiya Artisan Market for handmade crafts and complimentary appetizers from the Southeast European countries such as Greece, Albania, Serbia, Romania and Croatia.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appetizers
Noun
-
Saline, like most other beaches on St Barth’s, is rather bare bones—no bars, no shops, no restaurants—so be sure to pack your own snacks and water.—
Molly Barstein,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Dining The Pennsylvanian features a Corridor Cafe, where travelers can grab breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with snacks and a selection of beverages, including wine, beer, spirits, and nonalcoholic drinks.—
Abby Price,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Daily rituals like the evening wine reception (local pours are paired with elevated light bites) accentuate the former boarding house’s welcoming warmth.—
Forbes Travel Guide,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
At Nobu by the Beach, Nobu favorites are translated into poolside bites served straight to your recliner or private cabana.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And his recent work, from the underrated Murderbot to his newest role in the gay BDSM comedy Pillion, reflects his offbeat, silly tastes.—
Charu Sinha,
Vulture,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The company’s leadership was too focused on slashing costs and not enough on investing back into its brands, particularly at a time when consumer tastes were changing.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Easy snacks and nibbles that are comfortable, elegant and, yes, perfectly matched to a cocktail, martini or otherwise.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Some nibbles to graze on Lightly sweet, warmly spiced mulled wine is best paired with a selection of salty snacks.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
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 5 Feb. 2026.
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