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

The 400-odd recipes include savory pies of all stripes, a mind-boggling array of uses for many styles of cheese, and boundless vegetable dishes. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026 The dish features sweet and savory thick-cut bacon suspended from a miniature clothesline. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Noun

The winner improves to 3-0 on the season — and gets savory bragging rights. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 Each bite of brothy ground lamb and beans is flavored with sweet paprika and a touch of red pepper flakes—the perfect savory-spicy balance. — Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for savory

Recent Examples of Synonyms for savory

Adjective

The smell is both appetizing and potent, the air heavy with peppers that keep the factory in a constant fog of aromatic tear gas.

— Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Latin Salt is Pisqueya’s signature creation - a blend of sea salt and black pepper infused with Caribbean oregano, a distinctive, aromatic herb sourced from regenerative farms in the Dominican Republic.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of aromatic

Adjective

There's also the Pillow Talk Dreams Come True box, a sweet pink velvet box tied with a bow that houses 16 full-size Pillow Talk products, including lipsticks, blushes and mascara.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
Today’s cinnamon fragrances are less candle-aisle sweet, and more sophisticated.

— Amanda Le, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of sweet

Adjective

For the beach season, top it with fresh peaches coated in sweet and spicy pepper jelly.

— Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
The context is also important here and probably speaks to potential filmmaker fears over their politically spicy project being jettisoned.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of spicy

Adjective

The half-day Istanbul tour was amazing, with a visit to Zeyrek Mosque, exploring the Basilica Cistern, and wandering the Spice Market, alive with the most fragrant foodstuffs.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Both are fragrant with corn, large and in charge, with a scoop shape for enthusiastic dipping.

— Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of fragrant

Adjective

Inevitably, the room was filled with delightful noise and laughter.

— Kelly Leonard, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
The Nashville group Total Wife go off the deep end with mutant hyperpop fantasies on their delightful Come Back Down, while Phoenix’s Glixen get romantic on Quiet Pleasures.

— Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of delightful

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

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“Savory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/savory. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of savory

adjective

noun

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