salty

adjective

ˈsȯl-tē How to pronounce salty (audio)
Definition of saltynext
1
as in salt
of, relating to, or containing salt salty sea water is safe to swim in, but you really shouldn't swallow it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spicy
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent salty language that earned the movie an R rating

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in delicious
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses a salty, insightful analysis of male-female relationships

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 salty Adding mozzarella and Parmesan creates a salty, extra cheesy base while tomato sauce balances the richness with some acidity. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2026 Before the healing process was complete, however, Scotty died in what scientists believe was a salty marsh. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 These tubers have fetched $600 per kilo at auction, growing in three months and yielding a delicate, lemon-y or salty taste. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026 Details like floor-to-ceiling glass and oak ceilings add to the home’s grandeur, and a fire pit at the edge of the lawn—plus private beach access—are ideal for travelers who want to soak in the salty breeze. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for salty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for salty
  1. salt
  2. spicy
  3. delicious
  4. suggestive
  5. pungent
  6. savory
  7. zesty
  8. piquant
Adjective
  • Petrobras pumps mostly medium-sweet crude from this pre-salt layer.
    — Todd Gordon, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • And energy intelligence platform Enverus estimates Brazil’s pre-salt production can hit as much as 4 million barrels per day by 2030.
    — Michelle Velez, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of salt
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
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 effect dissipates somewhat whenever Cahyono resorts to less suggestive, more blatantly surreal imagery.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Though revealing, his version of naked dressing was tantalizingly suggestive rather than explicitly bare.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of suggestive
Adjective
  • The script is full of pungent, funny debates about power, with observations that still land.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The garlic added a pungent heat, and the tahina a nutty savoriness.
    — Cooking Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of pungent
Adjective
  • Customers can choose from a variety of spicy and savory flavors such as garlic Parmesan, Korean BBQ, mango habanero, soy garlic teriyaki and Yangnyeom, a sweet and savory Korean glaze.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • There are more than 4,200 licensed daycares in Georgia, so surely there is a way to stack them up and compare — or at least weed out the less savory ones.
    — Samantha Hogan, AJC.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of savory
Adjective
  • The Polaris dazzles with tequila, mezcal, blackberry syrup, and a touch of citrus air foam, while the Hydra balances gin, mastiha, carrot, celery, and a bright, zesty twist of lime.
    — Jaclyn DeGiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Five-Spice Pumpkin Bread This Five-Spice Pumpkin Bread takes a bold twist on the traditional recipe with roasted Autumn Frost squash and a zesty five-spice powder instead of classic pumpkin spice.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of zesty
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

saltwater
salty
salubrious
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Salty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/salty. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All