Definition of palatablenext
1
2
as in pleasant
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses I always associate the palatable aroma of roasting turkey with Thanksgiving

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word palatable different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of palatable are appetizing, savory, tasty, and toothsome. While all these words mean "agreeable or pleasant especially to the sense of taste," palatable often applies to something that is found to be merely agreeable.

butterflies that birds find palatable

When could appetizing be used to replace palatable?

In some situations, the words appetizing and palatable are roughly equivalent. However, appetizing suggests a whetting of the appetite and applies to aroma and appearance as well as taste.

appetizing hors d'oeuvres

When would savory be a good substitute for palatable?

The meanings of savory and palatable largely overlap; however, savory applies to both taste and aroma and suggests piquancy and often spiciness.

dumplings with savory fillings

When is it sensible to use tasty instead of palatable?

The words tasty and palatable can be used in similar contexts, but tasty implies a pronounced taste.

a tart and tasty pie

In what contexts can toothsome take the place of palatable?

While the synonyms toothsome and palatable are close in meaning, toothsome stresses the notion of agreeableness and sometimes implies tenderness or daintiness.

an enticing array of toothsome desserts

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 palatable The nicotine salt allows the nicotine to cross the blood-brain barrier more easily, making higher levels of nicotine more palatable, according to King. Callie Teitelbaum, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 Her work as an exec producer on Narcos helped establish the notion that non-English language dramas were palatable to global streaming audiences. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 31 July 2026 Looking forward, Microsoft announced a capex change this quarter that will make its headline numbers appear more palatable, and will offer a further glow-up to its free cash flow. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 30 July 2026 That said, the audio advertisements are fairly palatable since LiveOne has a clock icon at the bottom of the screen that counts down to the next audio ad break. Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for palatable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palatable
Adjective
  • Being financially okay is about more than the size of an account balance.
    Kristin Vance Richards, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Those local leaders who came in as Democrats five, six, seven years ago wanted to make shoplifting okay, kept the schools closed too long, they got repudiated by voters.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Do not leave the important detail implied because the tone feels pleasant today.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Adding to the pleasure of a visit here is the location, the walk to Home Park from the station being one of the more pleasant, through the city’s Central Park.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Fresh corn is a summertime staple, and there are plenty of delicious ways to put it to good use.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The food in the modernist dining hall is delicious, but sparse.
    Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Even though his parents split more than 25 years ago, according to Us Weekly, their living arrangement worked out just fine.
    Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Before planting any hibiscus seeds, start by nicking or sanding the seeds using fine-grade sandpaper or the tip of a knife.
    Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • By next weekend, the experience outdoors will be more enjoyable for most looking to take advantage of the dwindling days of summer break.
    Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • For Schrager, figuring out how all those pieces fit together remains one of the most enjoyable parts of the job.
    Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Bad timing notwithstanding, Robert’s party at Susan’s house is pretty tasteful.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Perfect for indoor or outdoor decorating, this two-piece pillow cover set is designed with birds, flowers, branches, and leaves against a bridge background that looks tasteful and timeless.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • When looking for symptoms, anything can become suspect; and when comfort is sought, anything can look alright.
    Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The kids are not alright, or even right in the head in Serbian drama 3 Weeks After.
    Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2026
Adjective
  • If Virgo was rising on the horizon at your time of birth, your money sector is ruled by lovable Venus, and occupied by the aesthetically pleasing sign of Libra.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The play of both lines was pleasing to Harbaugh, who praised the performances of young defensive linemen TeRah Edwards and Jacobian Guillory.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Palatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palatable. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on palatable

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster