palatable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'palatable' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe food or ideas that are acceptable or easy to swallow. For example: "The soup was very palatable and I enjoyed every bite."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And so Merkel will try to reduce the British aims to digestible chunks which she can then make appear palatable to the rest of Europe.

The Guardian

That is not a palatable image but then, poverty is not pretty.

The Guardian

Congressional staff involved in refining the USA Freedom Act since it last passed the House by 303 votes to 121 in May 2014 believe various revisions since have made the bill palatable enough to security hawks in the Senate, though expect possible amendments in the days ahead.

The Guardian

The truth: The man has made Chris de Burgh palatable – what else do we need to say?

The Guardian - Music

It's the one English country drink that has never gone out of fashion, probably because it's so easy to make a palatable version.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In more God-fearing times, perhaps, the idea of children being exposed to both anxiety and comedy was more palatable to parents.

The Guardian

And if the knock-on reduction in benefits and increased income tax revenues of paying the living wage is factored in, the total cost to the taxpayer would be a much more palatable £726m.

The Guardian

Sometimes having a diagnosis for an ailment makes the symptoms much more palatable.

The Guardian

"I think we were both a little surprised that day," McPhee said of his first meeting with Detwiler, "but the excitement was palatable, and by the end of the day Kate had already unofficially incorporated me into the project".

The Guardian

Mario and Sonic made sense to western players, but lurking just beyond these palatable mascots was a world of entertainment too strange to ever secure an official European release: fascinating, crazy games full of talking octopuses and jaunty tunes.

The Guardian - Travel

"They are incredibly palatable.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing non-food items as "palatable", ensure the context clearly indicates that you mean 'acceptable' or 'agreeable', not literally 'tasty'.

Common error

While "palatable" is a versatile word, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Replace it with more specific synonyms like "agreeable", "acceptable", or "satisfactory" to enhance clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "palatable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something as pleasing to the taste or agreeable to the mind. Ludwig AI indicates that this word is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "palatable" functions as an adjective, denoting something pleasing or acceptable. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It sees common use in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While "palatable" is versatile, it's important to consider synonyms like "agreeable", "acceptable", or "delicious" for enhanced precision. When describing non-food items, make the context clear and avoid overusing it in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

agreeable

Changes the focus to the quality of being pleasing or acceptable to the mind or senses.

pleasant

Shifts the emphasis to causing a feeling of happiness or satisfaction.

acceptable

Indicates something is satisfactory or allowable, especially from a moral or social standpoint.

satisfactory

Conveys the sense of meeting requirements or expectations adequately.

delicious

Specifically relates to food and its highly pleasing taste.

tasty

Another food-related term implying a good flavor.

tolerable

Suggests something is bearable or endurable, though not necessarily enjoyable.

easy to accept

Highlights the readiness with which something can be agreed upon or believed.

inoffensive

Indicates that something is not likely to cause hurt feelings or negative reactions.

unobjectionable

Implies that something does not give rise to any protest or disapproval.

FAQs

How can I use "palatable" in a sentence?

You can use "palatable" to describe food that is pleasing to taste, as in "The chef made the vegetables more palatable by adding herbs". It can also describe ideas or proposals that are acceptable or agreeable, like "The compromise was palatable to both parties".

What is the difference between "palatable" and "delicious"?

"Palatable" generally means pleasing or acceptable, while "delicious" specifically refers to something that tastes very good. Something can be palatable without being particularly delicious.

What can I say instead of "palatable" when referring to an idea?

When referring to an idea, you can use alternatives like "acceptable", "agreeable", "satisfactory", or "tolerable" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say something is 'politically palatable'?

Yes, it is correct. "Politically palatable" means that something is acceptable or agreeable from a political perspective, as in "The new policy was designed to be politically palatable to voters".