Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
semisweet

semisweet

3.4
A taste that is a little sweet and a little bitter, like some chocolate
  • adjective
  • /ˌsɛmɪˈswiːt/
translation icon : semidulce
  • I prefer semisweet chocolate chips when baking cookies, as they are not too sugary.

Examples

  • The dessert had a semisweet flavor that balanced perfectly between bitter and sweet.

  • She chose a semisweet red wine to accompany the meal.

  • I prefer semisweet chocolate for baking.

  • This cake uses semisweet chocolate chips.

  • I prefer semisweet chocolate chips because they add just the right amount of sweetness to my cookies.

  • The cake was made with semisweet chocolate, giving it a rich, balanced flavor.

  • For her dessert, she selected a semisweet sauce to enhance the taste of the fresh fruit.

Synonyms

bittersweet
vssemisweet
7 3.9

A taste that is both bitter and sweet

is sweeter overall with only a faint bitter note
sweetish
vssemisweet
1 3.3

A little sweet in taste or smell

is usually marked by a faint bitter note

Antonyms

bitter
81 1.0

Having a sharp, unpleasant taste that is not sweet

unsweetened
7 3.0

Does not contain added sugar

How Sweet

syrupy
3 3.7
sweet
611 1.0
semisweet
3.4
unsweetened
7 3.0

Surface Forms

semisweet positive

Morphology

semisweet = sweet (transparent) = semi + sweet

The meaning is directly compositional: 'semi-' means partly and 'sweet' supplies the base taste meaning.

Etymology

The word semisweet joins semi- meaning 'half' or 'partly' and sweet, so it means 'partly sweet'. That's why we use it for chocolate or wine that has some sweetness but is not too sugary.