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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 This is not easy information for a kid to digest, and the filmmakers don’t always make their heavy themes as fun and palatable as in a Pixar flick. Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025 And that’s just as well, because the movie has no interest in making such intellectual property more palatable to a wider audience. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2025 If that were to be the case, Mays’ cap hit would probably be a lot more palatable on the spending plan. Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025 Studies also indicate that for some people, cravings for highly palatable foods go well beyond just a normal hankering for a snack and are, in fact, signs of addictive behavior. Claire Wilcox, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for palatable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palatable
Adjective
  • As the mid-Missouri heat and humidity finally subside, any outdoor activity—from the perfect wine picnic to a Katy Trail hike—is much more pleasant.
    Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
  • As America’s capital of both wine production and pleasant weather, California has any number of towns that capture this experience, each with distinguishing characteristics that suit different types of travelers.
    Justin Goldman, AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But harness a touch of Scotland’s inimitable peat, and the Rob Roy really steps into its own, the vermouth offering sweetness to the scotch’s smoke, their interplay both delicious and unique.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Greet guests with a warm welcome, a house drink, and a few delicious appetizers.
    Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This lineup of alcohol-free drinks—okay, fine, mocktail recipes—offers a vibrant, inventive way to craft festive zero-proof beverages.
    Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Putting your hands on someone is never, ever okay.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This could make eating more enjoyable, leading to eating more.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Taking pictures can actually make an experience more enjoyable and more lasting.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Taylor, then with her fourth husband Richard Burton, wanted to ditch her formal '50s style of long skirts and tasteful sheaths.
    Liz McNeil, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Or the décor flourishes of a squillion-dollar yacht that’s tasteful to a fault?
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Working primarily in the North Sea, Müller had pioneered the use of extremely fine nets to collect these and other tiny marine organisms.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • According to Thorsten Schumm, PhD, a researcher at the Vienna University of Technology’s (TU Wien) Institute of Atomic and Subatomic Physics, some theories suggest that the fine-structure constant may not be truly constant.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Gazelles are one of the trendiest adidas shoes right now, appreciated for their clean lines, aesthetically pleasing leather uppers, low profile, and all-day comfort.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Neither Eliot nor Jules suspected anything, and the ease of the deception added to its pleasing sordidness.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • How to Enjoy These edible eyeballs make the perfect finishing touch for a lychee martini, a naturally fitting choice since the base spirit pairs beautifully with the fruit’s floral sweetness.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
  • While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.
    Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Palatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palatable. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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