delectable

[ dih-lek-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. delightful; highly pleasing; enjoyable:

   a delectable witticism.

   Synonyms: entertaining, amusing, agreeable, gratifying, pleasurable

   Antonyms: distasteful, disagreeable

2. delicious:

   a delectable dinner.

   Antonyms: distasteful, disagreeable

noun

1. an especially appealing or appetizing food or dish:

   a buffet table spread with delectables.

delectable

/ dɪˈlɛktəbəl /

adjective

1. highly enjoyable, esp pleasing to the taste; delightful

Derived Forms

• deˈlectableness, noun
• deˈlectably, adverb

Other Words From

• de·lecta·ble·ness de·lecta·bili·ty noun
• de·lecta·bly adverb
• unde·lecta·ble adjective
• unde·lecta·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of delectable¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin dēlectābilis delightful, equivalent to dēlectā ( re ) to delight (frequentative of dēlicere to entice) + -bilis -ble

Word History and Origins

Origin of delectable¹

C14: from Latin dēlectābilis, from dēlectāre to delight

Example Sentences

Audiences wouldn’t mind if this delectable pairing — LuPone said she’s heard comparison to Burns and Allen — would keep going.

From Los Angeles Times

When the production came to the Ahmanson last summer, I noted that Creel, “infusing every line reading with delectable originality,” had only gotten better.

From Los Angeles Times

Does she think it’s more necessary to keep the Democratic coalition fired up heading into the convention and beyond, or to signal to swing voters that she’s ready to smash some shale rock to smithereens and huff up its delectable hydrocarbons?

From Slate

BATA’s Chef Tyler Fenton also shared a delectable seasonal recipe that’s reflective of the restaurant’s ethos, but can easily be made at home: Charred summer squash with boshi koji sauce, spiced pecans and alliums.

From Salon

Some of the best meatballs can be had at Sorella, a swanky Italian restaurant located in Kendall Yards that also serves delectable arancini and boasts quite an extensive wine list.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• appetizing
• delicate
• delightful
• enticing
• exquisite
• heavenly
• luscious
• palatable
• satisfying
• savory
• tasty
• yummy