Definition of palatablenext
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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 Last week, several legislative tweaks made the plan more palatable to City Council members. Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 16 June 2026 There is an argument to say that the viewer shouldn’t be protected, that they should be shown everything and then left to decide for themselves what is palatable and what isn’t. Nick Miller, New York Times, 19 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 And, for all the theater of the hearing and Wyper’s expressions of sympathy with aldermen, the Stonepeak executive didn’t offer any meaningful concessions to make this obnoxious meter deal more palatable for Chicagoans. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for palatable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palatable
Adjective
  • Edward Igoe said all officers involved in the situation are okay, but the suspect has died.
    Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
  • After a December test screening proved to be just okay, the studio decided to take matters into its own hands and took charge of the post-production to make its own cut.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
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
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
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
Adjective
  • More than 90% agreed or strongly agreed that scent work is enjoyable for dogs, tires them out and builds confidence in shy dogs.
    Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
  • An enjoyable end-to-end affair where the first half felt like a rout, with Australia having as many shots as yellow cards — two, the same number of goals the United States had scored.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
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
Adjective
  • Know that things are gonna be alright, and there is definitely a bright future ahead.
    Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
  • But the kids are alright, too, and several up-and-comers are name-checked as ones to watch.
    Max Mathews, New York Times, 9 June 2026
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

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Cite this Entry

“Palatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palatable. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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