Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Extremely pleasing to the sense of taste; delicious: Describes food or drink that is very appetizing and enjoyable to eat.
   • Attractive or appealing, especially in a way that suggests sensual pleasure: Describes a person, especially a woman, who is considered very physically attractive in a lush or voluptuous manner.
   • Acceptable or agreeable to the mind: Describes an idea, offer, or situation that is pleasing or satisfactory.

Usage and Examples

• Describing food:

  • The bakery displayed an array of toothsome pastries in the window.
  • He prepared a toothsome meal that left everyone satisfied.

• Describing a person's attractiveness:

  • The actor was known for playing the role of a toothsome villain in the classic film.
  • The novel's protagonist is captivated by a toothsome heiress.

• Describing an agreeable idea or offer:

  • The company made a toothsome proposal that was hard to refuse.
  • A week's vacation was a toothsome prospect after months of hard work.

Advanced Usage

• Literary and somewhat archaic: The use of "toothsome" to describe a person's physical appeal is now considered somewhat old-fashioned or literary. It often carries a connotation of lush, sensual attractiveness.
  • The painter was inspired by the toothsome curves of the Renaissance figures.

Variants and Related Words

• Toothsomely (adverb): In a toothsome manner.
  • The dessert was toothsomely rich.
• Toothsomeness (noun): The quality of being toothsome.
  • The toothsomeness of the dish was undeniable.

Synonyms

• For taste: Delectable, delicious, luscious, savory, scrumptious, tasty, yummy.
• For attractiveness: Alluring, attractive, voluptuous, seductive, comely (archaic).
• For acceptability: Agreeable, acceptable, palatable, pleasing, satisfactory.

Antonyms

• For taste: Bland, distasteful, insipid, tasteless, unappetizing.
• For attractiveness: Unattractive, plain.
• For acceptability: Disagreeable, unacceptable, unpalatable.

Idioms and Phrases

• No common idioms are directly formed with "toothsome." It is typically used as a standalone descriptive adjective.

Adjective

1. having strong sexual appeal
   • juicy barmaids
   • a red-hot mama
   • a voluptuous woman
   • a toothsome blonde in a tight dress
2. extremely pleasing to the sense of taste
3. acceptable to the taste or mind
   • palatable food
   • a palatable solution to the problem