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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

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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 That seems more palatable than taking Golden State's reported two-year, $45 million proposal that includes a team option for the second year. Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 And the technology has proven politically palatable to Republican leaders in ways other renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, have not. Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Sep. 2025 But that figure is more palatable for the Blue Jackets, who have plenty of cap space. Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025 But 3 points much more palatable. Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for palatable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palatable
Adjective
  • Customer service was easy and pleasant.
    Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Stierli is particularly concerned with the situation at Great Falls, where trails and picturesque cliffsides along the Potomac River attract many visitors, especially with this weekend’s pleasant weather.
    Brian Todd, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The world is full of delicious Negroni variations, but few and far between are the ones that work as harmoniously as this.
    Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Meaty, creamy and simply delicious!
    Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Korangy said as long as a person is okay with not building equity then renting would be the obvious choice.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Griffin’s former school, Baylor University, also shared their relief that the family was okay.
    Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The day after his victory, Gurgel’s wife called Kerr and invited him over for lunch, and although Kerr worried he might get jumped, instead the two fighters had an enjoyable meal and chat.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Upgrading to a fresh board, especially wood, makes prep safer and much more enjoyable.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Kidman and Urban neglected any kind of tasteful Instagram post with a joint statement.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Their commitment to setting a new standard for facial plastic surgery has drawn tasteful clients from not only all over Florida, but around the globe.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • On one hand, CJ McCollum is a perfectly fine starting point guard.
    Law Murray, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • He was sentenced to serve seven days in a DUI education center and ordered to pay a $350 fine and court fees.
    Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The picture looks pleasing in a dim room and holds shadow detail in darker scenes, so movies don’t turn into mush.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The crowd-pleasing display was reportedly part of a high-profile collaboration between Tesla, Disney and Elon Musk’s xAI platform, designed to blur the line between Hollywood spectacle and cutting-edge robotics.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Growing edible florals in your garden provides you versatile flowers for crafting, cooking, and baking.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The Blind Butcher Shoppe is a favorite spot for locals hoping to bring home dinner, but their selection of artisanal pantry items like pickles, preserves, and more are worth checking out for those looking to bring an edible souvenir home.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Palatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palatable. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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