toothsome
Americanadjective
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pleasing to the taste; palatable.
a toothsome dish.
-
pleasing or desirable, as fame or power.
-
voluptuous; sexually alluring.
a toothsome blonde.
adjective
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of delicious or appetizing appearance, flavour, or smell
-
attractive; alluring
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of toothsome
Explanation
Toothsome describes something that's absolutely delicious, like a bite of your famous flourless chocolate cake. You can use the adjective toothsome when you need a new way to say "yummy" or "scrumptious" or "tasty." It's a word that seems to come up often in restaurant reviews: "The hamburger was overcooked, but the accompanying French fries were quite toothsome." This is the earliest meaning of toothsome, from the 1560's — later it came to also be used for describing a pretty girl.
Vocabulary lists containing toothsome
The Awakening
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Simply Scrumptious! Synonyms for "Delicious"
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Eight Cousins
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s a particularly toothsome, sapid red marked by notes of red fruit and spice, and a wonderful match with a wide range of foods.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025
Cookbookwise, that means before presenting an assortment of easy-to-make toothsome recipes, there’s some science about the plant to learn.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2025
In the end, despite the toothsome creatures’ fearsome reputation, it was humans that did the sharks in.
From Slate • Sep. 22, 2023
Simplicity aside, the gentle tinge of smoke lends savory depth to the sweet, toothsome shrimp, which has made this easy yet impressive recipe a favorite for dinner parties and Sunday afternoons.
From Salon • Jul. 18, 2023
It was filled with friandises, with luscious and toothsome bits—the finest of fruits, patés, a rare bottle or two, delicious syrups, and bonbons in abundance.
From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
