SAVOURY Synonyms: 292 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'savory' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of savory are appetizing , palatable , tasty , and toothsome . While all these words mean "agreeable or pleasant especially to the sense of taste," savory applies to both taste and aroma and suggests piquancy and often spiciness. // dumplings with savory fillings

Q: When can 'appetizing' be used instead of 'savory'?

While in some cases nearly identical to savory , appetizing suggests a whetting of the appetite and applies to aroma and appearance as well as taste. // appetizing hors d'oeuvres

Q: When could 'palatable' be used to replace 'savory'?

While the synonyms palatable and savory are close in meaning, palatable often applies to something that is found to be merely agreeable. // butterflies that birds find palatable

Q: In what contexts can 'tasty' take the place of 'savory'?

The words tasty and savory can be used in similar contexts, but tasty implies a pronounced taste. // a tart and tasty pie

Q: Where would 'toothsome' be a reasonable alternative to 'savory'?

The meanings of toothsome and savory largely overlap; however, toothsome stresses the notion of agreeableness and sometimes implies tenderness or daintiness. // an enticing array of toothsome desserts

savory 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsā-və-rē

variants also savoury

Definition of savory

as in aromatic

having a pleasant smell cedar is one of the most savory of all woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in delicious

very pleasing to the sense of taste a savory beef stew that really hit the spot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sweet

giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses having to fire someone was not a task that the manager found at all savory

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in spicy

sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses a savory new book on a subject that seemingly had been done to death

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

savory

2 of 2

noun

as in herb

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word savory different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of savory are appetizing, palatable, tasty, and toothsome. While all these words mean "agreeable or pleasant especially to the sense of taste," savory applies to both taste and aroma and suggests piquancy and often spiciness.

dumplings with savory fillings

When can appetizing be used instead of savory?

While in some cases nearly identical to savory, appetizing suggests a whetting of the appetite and applies to aroma and appearance as well as taste.

appetizing hors d'oeuvres

When could palatable be used to replace savory?

While the synonyms palatable and savory are close in meaning, palatable often applies to something that is found to be merely agreeable.

butterflies that birds find palatable

In what contexts can tasty take the place of savory?

The words tasty and savory can be used in similar contexts, but tasty implies a pronounced taste.

a tart and tasty pie

Where would toothsome be a reasonable alternative to savory?

The meanings of toothsome and savory largely overlap; however, 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 savory

Adjective

Some of these new Costco finds are sweet, while others are savory, and a few are twists on classics. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2026 The goat is tender and deeply savory, the perfect vehicle for slathering charred avocado and queso for a truly melt-in-your-mouth bite. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026

Noun

Add lightly sauteed garlic to savory dishes like pasta, stir-fry, soups, stews, or roasted vegetables. — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 26 Oct. 2026 What's candy for the goose may be a savory munchy for the gander. — Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for savory

Recent Examples of Synonyms for savory

Adjective

Don't leave without trying the 'Sauna Gus,' a sauna experience which is led by a 'Gus Master' who uses aromatic oils to enhance the steamy process.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
Earthy and aromatic arroz congrí follows a recipe from his Cuban uncle.

— Hilary Cadigan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of aromatic

Adjective

This recipe for double crust apple pie delivers a mix of tart and sweet along with cinnamon that is crispy, delicious and is worth the indulgence.

— Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Refrigerated tortellini is one of the fastest ways to turn plain broth into a satiating, delicious meal.

— Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of delicious

Adjective

The restaurant also makes its own salsas, including roja, verde and a spicier green variety.

— Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
The property collaborated with Nobu and the food is clean and delicious—unsurprisingly, lots of raw fish and produce like spicy microgreens and August-sweet tomatoes grown at Sensei’s hydroponic farm down the road.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of spicy

Noun

Slightly west, Sultan-Epe lies beside a deep canyon, where a stream threads through thickets of mulberry, buckthorn, blackberry, and wild herbs—another improbable pocket of green in one of Kazakhstan’s driest regions.

— Avantika Chaturvedi, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2026
The ornamental herb thrives in USDA Zones 4 to 8 and can flower continuously throughout summer, while fending off deer and attracting pollinators.

— Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of herb

Adjective

Hailing from the mint family, catmint (Nepeta) boasts fragrant, lacy gray-green foliage and lavender-blue, easy-to-grow flowers.

— Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 4 Nov. 2026
The oven baked hot water cornbread, however, steals the show with fragrant orange zest, crisp crust and a substantial crumb.

— Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of fragrant

Adjective

Sipping on the watermelon, calamansi, ginger agua fresca was just the right pairing with my boldly piquant dinner.

— The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Placebo, loukoumi, kouglof, toda raba, Sharapova, tempura, cacao, platypus, shrub, castagnette, potato salada, potage piquant pékinois.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Definition of piquant

Browse Nearby Words

savors

savory

savvied

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Savory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/savory. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of savory

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on savory

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

abandon

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes