toothsome means delicious. It carries an Arena rating of 1713, earned across 48 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, toothsome ranks #130 of 17,122 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #206 of 40,235 for Qualifying, #809 of 17,150 for Funniest Words, #1,613 of 17,116 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
toothsome is pronounced /ˈtuθ.səm/.
Why “toothsome” is a great word
Pleasing to the taste or, by extension, attractive in a way that appeals to the senses; from tooth in the figurative sense of 'appetite, taste, liking' joined with -some ('characterized by, tending to'), first attested in the mid-16th century. Unlike 'palatable,' which suggests mere acceptability, or 'luscious,' which leans toward a cloying, syrupy richness, 'toothsome' carries an active, inviting quality—the crisp skin on a roast duck, the saline crunch of a just-fried chip, the glisten of honey on ripe cheese. It is the quiet promise that the world, at times, is made for our specific, delicious enjoyment.
Etymology
From tooth + -some.
adj
- Delicious.
- Sexually attractive.e.g.“In 1919 he had been waiting at a bus stop, en route to his initiation as a Freemason: a toothsome blonde had crossed his path, and he had stalked off after her instead.”
- Having a pleasing texture when bitten.e.g.“Once the pasta is firmly al dente (toothsome but not snappy), add it into the pan, with a bunch of cheese, and cook til it all becomes glossy.”
- Showing lots of teeth; toothy.
Words closest in meaning
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