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 Butternut squash skins are in the middle; some people may find the roasted skin palatable, but others will not. — Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 13 Sep. 2026 Wedding clients perform love instead of living it; her brother, a congressman, disguises his LGBTQ identity to make his political one more palatable; the gentrifiers of her neighborhood trumpet their changes as progress. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026 The tradeoff between giving up some personal privacy in exchange for expedited screening is one that many travelers welcome, making air travel more palatable for travelers and more efficient for TSA officers. — Sheldon H. Jacobson, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2026 Hundreds of years of farming and cooking would likely result in something more palatable. — Noel Murray, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for palatable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palatable
Adjective
  • And just remember that ​question for ⁠a couple of days from now, okay?
    — Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The police officer, whose name has not been released, was transported to a Plano hospital with a gunshot wound to the arm and is expected to be okay, officials told CBS News Texas.
    — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Jacaranda trees bloom in purple across the city’s streets and parks, making wandering between neighborhoods in search of milongas (tango dance halls) especially pleasant.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In a world of endless technical advancement, who could have predicted that the greatest luxury of all would be a pleasant conversation with a human?
    — Anna van Praagh, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2026
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
Adjective
  • Miami did a relatively fine job in Weeks 2 and 3 against some of the most talented backs in Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers and Kenneth Walker of the Chiefs but slipped up the two games prior to the bye against the Vikings and Bengals.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Mario Prada sourced fine leathers, silver, silk and crystal from Europe and beyond and these are on public display in Milan for the first time.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • By redesigning the work product—an important element of the daily routines—work became more enjoyable for the employees.
    — Deborah Lovich, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Once night falls and the Delta breeze carries away any remaining daytime warmth, climbing becomes a far more enjoyable experience.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The smoothness of Knock Knock echoes through the rolling mid-tempo grooves of Stiltz’s unshowy arrangements, featuring drifting pedal steel from Theo Stocks and tasteful embellishments from Ana Roxanne on piano and vocals.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The great outdoors The outdoor space of Crawford’s Brentwood home rivaled its tasteful interior.
    — Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • But the bigger takeaway may be the sense that the kids are alright, musically-speaking.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • When looking for symptoms, anything can become suspect; and when comfort is sought, anything can look alright.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Meta has collaborated with Kylie Jenner and Ray-Ban to make their controversial AI glasses more aesthetically pleasing, and real robots are closer than ever before to the world of fashion.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Aesthetically, the Xbox Ally X20 is far more visually pleasing than the plain black original, and the handheld comes with a simple cardboard stand for showcasing it on your desk or for monitor use.
    — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Palatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palatable. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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