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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 After more than two years of political deadlock, Aoun’s election was seen as a victory for the anti-Hezbollah camp, and has seemingly made the shift in public opinion regarding peace with Israel more palatable. Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025 Instead of making something miraculous out of rudimentary materials, Government Cheese has a pantry of fine ingredients but never puts together anything palatable. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2025 Kadri did what he was supposed to do as the team’s third-line centre, providing credible offensive numbers (0.60 points per game) and palatable possession metrics (49.55 percent xG) with fair neutral usage (51.6 percent offensive-zone start rate). Nick Ashbourne, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 But simply abandoning the docking attempt was not a palatable solution. ArsTechnica, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for palatable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palatable
Adjective
  • But overall, this affordable bed frame offers a good mix of pleasant aesthetics and practical storage solutions.
    Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 15 May 2025
  • If busier weekends someday mean parking an extra block away, that will be a pleasant problem to solve.
    Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • The competition ended with a delicious buffet lunch attended by 500 people.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
  • Unlike indulging for a week on regular vacations, the cruise's generous food options – though often delicious – can be a bit overwhelming for some passengers after a few months.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • Fashion report, please: Maggie’s dress for her real wedding is a tasteful lacy number.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 May 2025
  • The use of brown leather on the saddle and grips, along with the matching leather tool bag on the left side, adds a tasteful vintage touch—an homage to the original motorcycle tool kits once tucked beneath saddles.
    Utkarsh Sood, New Atlas, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • There have been constant rumors the attacker has been close to signing a new contract at San Siro, but a deal has not yet been agreed and there may well be Champions League clubs interested in him this summer after his fine personal form during the team’s otherwise tumultuous campaign.
    Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 16 May 2025
  • The team first crushes the rocks into fine grains and separates out the zircons using dense liquids and magnetic fields.
    Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • At the same time, designers are encouraged to let their creativity flow—to re-imagine the rooms in ways that are both pleasing and potentially inspirational.
    Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2025
  • But for those who obsess about kerning, the space between letters, the view from above the tomb is not exactly an aesthetically pleasing one.
    Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 4 May 2025
Adjective
  • Entertaining and insightful, the demonstrations blend history, storytelling, and preparation techniques of dishes like shrimp ceviche and ropa vieja—edible reflections of Key West’s Bahamian, Cuban, and Caribbean influences.
    Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 8 May 2025
  • Image Here’s a primer on Carême, who wrote cookbooks, served kings, defined pastry as an edible form of architecture and is widely seen to be one of the world’s first celebrity chefs.
    Amelia Nierenberg, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Read Next Real Estate News See delightful Fair Oaks estate built in 1901 along American River.
    David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 13 May 2025
  • Delight by Default Aim for pleasant surprises—fewer steps, quicker approvals, delightful interactions and unexpected efficiency.
    Sal Rehmetullah, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Air Quality Index (AQI), developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), measures air pollution on a scale from 0 to 500: 0-50 (Green): Good—air quality is satisfactory.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
  • In finding the right fit and tailoring these systems, a clear understanding of your business priorities and pain points can go a long way in choosing a satisfactory solution.
    Shiv Kaushik, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Palatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palatable. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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