salty

adjective

ˈsȯl-tē How to pronounce salty (audio)
Definition of saltynext
1
as in salt
of, relating to, or containing salt salty sea water is safe to swim in, but you really shouldn't swallow it

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2
as in spicy
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent salty language that earned the movie an R rating

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3
as in delicious
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses a salty, insightful analysis of male-female relationships

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of salty Despite these issues, salty whey still has one redeeming quality. — New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026 The trick is that the body’s salty tissues conduct electricity, so a tiny voltage pulse from the hub could spread across the rat’s body to reach the implant. — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026 Adelman, in particular, came off as saltier than any Malone September presser that most of us jackals in the media could recall. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2026 The McDonald’s drive-thru has always been a great place to grab a quick bite on the road or the perfect mid-afternoon snack (which is an order of piping hot and perfectly salty fries and an ice-cold Diet Coke). — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for salty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for salty
  1. salt
  2. spicy
  3. delicious
  4. suggestive
  5. pungent
  6. savory
  7. zesty
  8. piquant
Adjective
  • Petrobras pumps mostly medium-sweet crude from this pre-salt layer.
    — Todd Gordon, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • And energy intelligence platform Enverus estimates Brazil’s pre-salt production can hit as much as 4 million barrels per day by 2030.
    — Michelle Velez, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of salt
Adjective
  • The resulting meatballs were moist, herby, spiced, seasoned, spicy and just a joy to eat.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Braeburns have pronounced sweetness balanced by tartness, and their flavor becomes richer, almost spicy, in the oven.
    — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of spicy
Adjective
  • There are so many delicious desserts that star apples, including cakes, cobblers, and more.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2026
  • No ermine robe was too soft, and no dish too delicious, for the cardinals of the past.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of delicious
Adjective
  • The effect dissipates somewhat whenever Cahyono resorts to less suggestive, more blatantly surreal imagery.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Though revealing, his version of naked dressing was tantalizingly suggestive rather than explicitly bare.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of suggestive
Adjective
  • The garlic added a pungent heat, and the tahina a nutty savoriness.
    — Cooking Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Many glass cleaners use ammonia to cut through grease and grime, but instead of leaving your appliances polished and shiny, the pungent solution can actually leave a streaky, cloudy sheen on stainless steel.
    — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of pungent
Adjective
  • There are more than 4,200 licensed daycares in Georgia, so surely there is a way to stack them up and compare — or at least weed out the less savory ones.
    — Samantha Hogan, AJC.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The pepperoni was savory and a little crisp around the edges, while the hot honey added a sweet kick that played nicely against the salty meat and melted cheese.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of savory
Adjective
  • New materials were also offered, with a striking feathery silver leather and a zesty polka-dot Vichy check canvas.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The orange bitters add a dry and zesty citrus character, and the Bénédictine brings a late-palate honeyed complexity that is warmed with baking spices.
    — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of zesty
Adjective
  • Sipping on the watermelon, calamansi, ginger agua fresca was just the right pairing with my boldly piquant dinner.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Placebo, loukoumi, kouglof, toda raba, Sharapova, tempura, cacao, platypus, shrub, castagnette, potato salada, potage piquant pékinois.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Definition of piquant

Browse Nearby Words

saltwater
salty
salubrious
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Cite this Entry

“Salty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/salty. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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