PALATABLE Synonyms: 221 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

palatable

adjective

ˈpa-lə-tə-bəl

Definition of palatable next

as in OK

being to one's liking I did not find the idea of moving again very palatable

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Warning buyers beforehand of unnamed price rises made all of that more palatable. —

Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 Trump later nominated Clayton, a more palatable option for Democrats, to serve in the post long-term. —

Caitlin Reilly, Fortune, 17 June 2026 Last week, several legislative tweaks made the plan more palatable to City Council members. —

Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 16 June 2026 Tinder and other apps made online dating more palatable for an entire generation by reinventing it as a casual mobile experience. —

Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for palatable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for palatable

Adjective

Sharp seemed okay with the tune being associated with him as a King.

— Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026
Her sister, 9, was okay after they were taken out of the water, according to police.

— Nick Lentz, CBS News, 28 June 2026

Definition of OK

Adjective

Despite the minimalism and lack of physical controls, the EX30 interior isn’t a bad place to be—Volvo’s interior designers tend to understand the assignment well, and the textures and materials are pleasant to the touch.

— Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026
This was a pleasant surprise given the significant worldwide controversy surrounding Huawei’s dominance in constructing 4G infrastructure.

— Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of pleasant

Adjective

Whip up a big batch of this delicious chicken salad to have ready to go all week.

— Patricia S York, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
That includes delicious deals across lots of furniture and home decor, including bedroom pieces, outdoor gems, and ceramics to uplift any area of your home.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 3 July 2026

Definition of delicious

Adjective

Public health data has taught us that alcohol, which can be fine when consumed in moderation, can be harmful to individual and societal health in excessive amounts.

— Adam Hoffer, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Good Chop is dedicated to providing the finest cuts of meat while promoting sustainable practices.

— Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Definition of fine

Adjective

Obviously there’s a resemblance but in a really subtle and tasteful way.

— Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 4 July 2026
Which is lovely, tasteful and, in the case of a celebration expected to draw some of the most famous people on earth, almost certainly wishful thinking.

— Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026

Definition of tasteful

Adjective

Ground beef is a versatile protein that offers lots of options for family-pleasing, satisfying, and delicious dishes.

— Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026
Held in the evening, this should be an aesthetically-pleasing way to kick this year’s race off, with a number of teams in contention to win.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 July 2026