moreish

Moreish is an informal word used to describe a food or drink that makes you want to have more of it.

Moreish is primarily British, and it’s relatively uncommon.

Example: These biscuits are so moreish—I can’t help but eat the whole bag in one sitting.

Although moreish sounds very much like modern slang, it’s actually recorded as far back as the 1690s, in a dictionary of English and Dutch (referring to pancakes, if you’re wondering). Its derivation is simple: more + the suffix -ish, which, among other things, can mean “addicted to” or “inclined or tending to” (as in bookish and freakish).

Moreish was spelled morish in most uses until quite recently. The current spelling gained prominence around the 1980s, about the same time the word itself started becoming more popular. Still, it is an uncommon word, used primarily by people in the U.K.

What are some synonyms for moreish?

• irresistible

What are some words that share a root or word element with moreish?

• most
• anymore
• moreover

What are some words that often get used in discussing moreish?

• snack
• treat
• sweet
• salty
• the munchies

Crisps, chips, biscuits, cakes—moreish is most often used with indulgent food that’s hard to stop eating.

Got leftover #breadsauce AND stuffing? Make our moreish croquettes for a #BoxingDay snack https://t.co/RpmwtJy7H1 pic.twitter.com/N8Q8bShLlA

— olive magazine (@olivemagazine) December 26, 2019

Planning on a Boxing Day shop? Break it up with a pit-stop at Grazing by Mark Greenaway.​

With a relaxed ambiance, delicious dishes, and a moreish cocktail menu, we’re sorry in advance if a trip in makes you forget shopping all together.​https://t.co/qlJMQpzxpc pic.twitter.com/PHGGaofXCF

— Grazing by Mark Greenaway (@GrazingByMG) December 26, 2019

This year’s @elainephi Christmas cake is (as always) magnificent, and dangerously moreish. I had a go at a white chocolate Rosie, to decorate. Here she is being trained by Santa, bur later she has run off to chase his reindeer. @berrybrosrudd supplied the claret- thank you! pic.twitter.com/ztdUUZaQBx

— Mike Shaw (@Boothamshaw) December 26, 2019

Which of the following descriptions most closely describes a food that is moreish?

A. Tasty but very rich and filling
B. Delicious and hard to resist
C. A bit bland
D. Too spicy to eat