hors d'oeuvres

noun

variants also hors d'oeuvre
plural of hors d'oeuvre
as in bites
a food served in small portions before the main part of a meal a tray of assorted hors d'oeuvres

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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 hors d'oeuvres Light bites came courtesy of charcuterie stations and passed hors d'oeuvres like sips of tomato gazpacho. — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026 There was an open bar with two signature drinks – The Bubbly Rose, which featured blackberry, seltzer and vodka, and a red sangria – hors d'oeuvres and background music from a jazz trio made up of members of the Bluewater Kings Band, who would play the reception. — Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 17 Mar. 2026 Both anchovy paste and tomato paste can add depth to dressings, sauces, and pasta dishes; sherry vinegar is ideal for vinaigrettes and glazes; a jar of capers can elevate simple hors d'oeuvres; and chili sambals can bring the heat to eggs, marinades, and stir-fries. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026 Prepare hors d'oeuvres and invite family members over for a rocking New Year's Eve gathering to reflect on the past year — and to set goals for the upcoming year together. — Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 29 Dec. 2025 Although the invitation stated that hors d'oeuvres will be provided, the Redditor doesn't believe that meets formal wedding expectations. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025 Enjoy live music and hors d'oeuvres along the way. — Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Dec. 2025 Have each course center on a classic fall produce type, from hors d'oeuvres to the main dish. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025 For hors d'oeuvres, highlights include tuna carpaccio, French onion soup, steak tartare and the escargot and foie gras parfait that Starr loves. — Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hors d'oeuvres
  1. bites
  2. tastes
  3. touches
  4. spots
Noun
  • The General Store, a Littleton spot for gifts, knickknacks and small bites, will open its second location in the unit directly next door to the 26-foot-tall ice cream churn bucket.
    — Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2026
  • West Nile virus survives in nature in several types of birds and is transmitted to humans by the bites of mosquitoes that feed on infected birds.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of bites
Noun
  • Fantastic Fest, the most reliably eclectic and unapologetically strange American film festival on the fall calendar, has unveiled a lineup that promises to delight any cinephile whose tastes lie outside the conventional.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The shift reflects the tastes of a more price-sensitive and discerning Chinese consumer, a Bloomberg columnist noted.
    — Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of tastes
Noun
  • In a makeup routine, highlighter acts as a finisher, one of the final touches after everything else is blended.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Jacobs is the alpha male of the Packers’ offense and has absolutely no competition for touches.
    — Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of touches
Noun
  • But there are only so many roster spots, and Berrios has emerged as a likely candidate to secure one given his versatility on special teams.
    — Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • As a general industry guideline, tires should be inspected carefully after five years in service for hardening, cracks, cuts and flat spots.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of spots

Browse Nearby Words

hors d'oeuvre
hors d'oeuvres
horse
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Cite this Entry

“Hors d'oeuvres.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hors%20d%27oeuvres. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hors d'oeuvres

Nglish: Translation of hors d'oeuvres for Spanish Speakers

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