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

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 Kochetkov being included over Bussi is a lot more palatable for Carolina, but losing a first, Nikishin and Nadeau for an area that technically isn’t the most pressing one is way too big of a bet. — Murat Ates, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 And the team is already working on making the cookies more palatable, with an eye toward the cookies being ready to eat in just a few years. — ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026 The Takeaway Asking how to make training more palatable for Gen-Z was the wrong question. — James Glover, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 To keep it palatable and comfortable, pair bold hues with more muted ones for balance. — Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for palatable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for palatable

Adjective

In the laundry room, Gen asks Kat if things are okay between them.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
Aparacio admits that most of won’t be able to keep up with that schedule and says six months is okay, too, and that particular chore can be saved for the big season changes and cleaning that comes with winter and summer.

— Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of OK

Adjective

Walk-in closets are a pleasant surprise, and the marble bathrooms have soaking tubs and showers with excellent water pressure, and a stash of Molton Brown toiletries.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026
The stadium hasn’t sold out since Opening Day, but the steady stream of out-of-state fans coming to celebrate the return of women’s pro baseball has been one of the many pleasant surprises of the WPBL’s opening season.

— Emily Ohman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of pleasant

Adjective

Its rooftop bar, Zefiro, is a hotspot for creative cocktails with views of the Duomo, while a restaurant by Korean-American chef Akira Back, who trained under Nobu, brings delicious Japanese fusion cuisine to a city dominated by pasta and steak.

— Laura Itzkowitz, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Cast your mind back to the winter of 2024 and the delicious second season of The Traitors.

— Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of delicious

Adjective

Crafted from the finest, lightest tweed, the dress—chosen by stylist Ramona Tabita—features a sumptuous knotted structure that opens into a generous back neckline and culminates in a majestic train that skims the red carpet.

— Giacomo Aricò, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2026
She’s played with a darkly enigmatic, unnerving quality by James in her finest work to date — a knowing, even domineering smile often curling around her lips.

— Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of fine

Adjective

The food is generally enjoyable, but don’t expect culinary fireworks as the main event.

— Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Katie Wiseman While Labor Day is an enjoyable three-day weekend for many, minimum wages for employees remain low across the nation, including in Kentucky.

— Katie Wiseman, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of enjoyable

Adjective

The owner specified it in tasteful Harrier dark gray paint, which was then covered in a satin paint-protection film to give a stealthy matte finish.

— Howard Walker, Robb Report, 11 Sep. 2026
The brand sells a tight curation of options—only three finishes and a handful of shapes—but each one is well-suited for minimalists in search of quiet, tasteful silhouettes.

— Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of tasteful

Adjective

The look is crisp, angular, and metallic, with lots of straight lines and slender silhouettes, and sits in pleasing contrast alongside luscious velvet and scratchy linen, rough stone, warm terracotta, or grainy timber.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
By creating exciting events for consumers to attend, alongside visually pleasing activations creators of all sizes are keen to share, the two are facilitating this output.

— Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of pleasing

Cite this Entry

Style

“Palatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palatable. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of palatable

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

shofar

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes