Synonyms of palatable

palatable

adjective

ˈpa-lə-tə-bəl 

1

as in OK

being to one's liking

I did not find the idea of moving again very palatable

Synonyms & Similar Words

• OK
• fine
• alright
• satisfactory
• agreeable
• acceptable
• good
• pleasing
• delicious
• nice
• all right
• pleasant
• copacetic
• delightful
• welcome
• delectable
• gratifying
• hunky-dory
• adequate
• felicitous
• tolerable
• ducky
• jake
• dreamy
• passable
• scrumptious
• decent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unsatisfactory
• disagreeable
• poor
• unacceptable
• inferior
• bad
• deficient
• substandard
• wanting
• wretched
• lousy
• mediocre
• second-class
• punk
• middling
• second-rate

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

• pleasant
• enjoyable
• delicious
• pleasing
• delightful
• sweet
• nice
• satisfying
• good
• welcome
• heavenly
• pretty
• pleasurable
• agreeable
• tasty
• tempting
• soothing
• comforting
• congenial
• desirable
• delectable
• amusing
• gratifying
• comfortable
• felicitous
• attractive
• jolly
• savory
• grateful
• dreamy
• luscious
• happy
• fascinating
• charming
• darling
• blessed
• entertaining
• dulcet
• alluring
• delightsome
• inviting
• blissful
• enchanting
• cheerful
• calming
• enviable
• amiable
• relishable
• hospitable
• gracious
• personable
• affable
• joyous
• cheery
• genial
• exhilarating
• goodly
• kindly
• diverting
• glad
• ecstatic
• good-natured
• euphoric
• intoxicating
• recreative
• rapturous
• elating
• felicific
• gemütlich
• nirvanic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unpalatable
• unpleasant
• disagreeable
• unwelcome
• repulsive
• offensive
• repugnant
• distasteful
• miserable
• disgusting
• abominable
• ghastly
• vile
• horrid
• repellent
• hellish
• obnoxious
• unsavory
• wretched
• boring
• odious
• tedious
• abhorrent
• commonplace
• stale
• bilious
• flat
• detestable
• dull
• hateful
• insipid
• irksome
• sad
• unhappy
• tragic
• depressing
• displeasing
• regrettable
• disheartening
• dreary
• gloomy
• dismal
• deplorable
• god-awful
• irritating
• hostile
• yucky
• joyless
• revulsive
• pleasureless
• annoying
• sorrowful
• lamentable
• vexing
• lugubrious
• aggravating
• heartrending
• heartbreaking
• exasperating
• mournful
• perturbing
• doleful
• dissatisfying
• dolorous
• forbidding
• disturbing
• lachrymose
• maddening
• infuriating
• distressing
• upsetting
• intimidating
• peeving
• enraging
• angering
• rankling
• riling
• inflaming
• outraging
• incensing

3

as in delicious

very pleasing to the sense of taste

the vegetarian version of that classic dish turned out to be equally palatable

Synonyms & Similar Words

• delicious
• tasteful
• edible
• flavorful
• appetizing
• tasty
• delectable
• yummy
• succulent
• scrumptious
• lush
• savory
• toothy
• flavorsome
• digestible
• dainty
• toothsome
• delightful
• luscious
• heavenly
• ambrosial
• pleasant
• pleasing
• mouthwatering
• delish
• satisfying
• eatable
• agreeable
• gratifying
• rare
• exquisite
• delicate
• choice

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unpalatable
• distasteful
• stale
• flat
• tasteless
• insipid
• unsavory
• boring
• tedious
• commonplace
• banal
• unappetizing
• flavorless
• smelly
• noxious
• unwholesome
• yucky
• unpleasant
• miserable
• offensive
• repulsive
• repugnant
• disagreeable
• awful
• wretched
• disgusting
• stinky
• noisome
• repellent
• abhorrent
• abominable
• sickening
• detestable
• horrid
• foul
• nauseating

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

Recent Examples of palatable

As long as McCarthy emerges healthy, the result will be palatable. —Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2025

Their relationship was volatile and messy, not tidy or palatable. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025

While the proposal is palatable to businesses, rounding up could be costly for consumers. —Ken Sweet, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025

If 22 million people losing access to those subsidies was palatable on its own, those who have unsubsidized health care are going to get hit, too. —Philip Elliott, Time, 30 Oct. 2025

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