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hors d'oeuvre

noun

Definition of hors d'oeuvrenext
as in taste
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'oeuvre 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 See All Example Sentences for hors d'oeuvre
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hors d'oeuvre
  1. taste
  2. bite
  3. touch
  4. spot
  5. drop
  6. scrap
  7. mouthful
  8. appetizer
Noun
  • Manoogian had been collecting art since the mid-1970s with a taste for American paintings.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • This full moon could also bring news regarding an immigration matter, or show up as a peak travel experience that leaves a weird taste in your mouth.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of taste
Noun
  • The restaurant serves a lovely breakfast on the veranda overlooking Ocean Drive as well as lunch and light bites in the piano bar in the lobby.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The frozen treat blends all the traditional flavors of pecan pie into the creamy ice cream base, giving you all the flavors of the beloved dessert in one delicious bite (and then another bite, and probably a few more, too).
    — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • The hotel's 18 rooms and five suites are all individually decorated with gloriously over-the-top touches in the form of antiques, sumptuous velvet duvet covers, and regal tones of red and gold that harken back to the property's royal history.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
  • However, producing a measurable signal is only an initial step toward restoring touch.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of touch
Noun
  • This year, Walker emerged as a more dominant bear unafraid to defend his spot on the hierarchy.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2026
  • So much of central Zurich continued to build around this hub, and the hotel grew into a notable gathering spot for guests like Charles Dickens, composer Franz Liszt, and later on former US president Bill Clinton.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of spot
Noun
  • One play before the touchdown, Cobb made up for his earlier drop with a catch-and-run on a screen pass that went for 46 yards and moved the ball to the Kennesaw State 2.
    — Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The travel-booking company also says that travelers headed to major cities for Thanksgiving or Christmas could see a price drop for hotels in the last 24-48 hours before the holiday.
    — Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of drop
Noun
  • Six melts, 24 hours The foundry’s electric arc furnace uses three large graphite electrodes to melt steel scrap.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The administration's proposal eliminates requirements for small class sizes and scraps caseload limits for family support specialists.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of scrap
Noun
  • 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 red meat.
    — Dylan Lovan, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Across the cove, less than a hundred yards away, another beaver swam to its lodge, also with a mouthful of sticks.
    — Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of mouthful
Noun
  • Now, the restaurant offers omakase tasting menus at both lunch and dinner, with the dinner menu featuring appetizers, dessert, and eight kinds of pizza.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026
  • This appetizer makes everybody smile and takes only 15 minutes to prepare.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of appetizer

Browse Nearby Words

horror-struck
hors d'oeuvre
hors d'oeuvres
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Cite this Entry

“Hors d'oeuvre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hors%20d%27oeuvre. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hors d'oeuvre

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hors d'oeuvre

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