semisweet

S1E1M3I1S1W4E1E1T1

adjective

Partially sweet or sweetened, but having a distinct bitter component.

“semisweet chocolate”

Similar
medium sweetbittersweettasty
OriginEnglish sweet ← Middle English swete ← Old English swēte →
UncommonScrabble 14
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Meanings

adjectivesemisweet (not comparable)

alternative semi-sweet

  1. not comparablePartially sweet or sweetened, but having a distinct bitter component.

    semisweet chocolate

  2. not comparablebeveragesContaining some residual sugars that complement the acidity and other flavor components but which do not dominate.

    Synonyms: medium sweet

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveContaining some residual sugars that complement the acidity and other flavor components but which do not dominate.

Similar
medium sweet

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivehaving a taste that is a mixture of bitterness and sweetness

Similar
bittersweettasty
Also see
bittersweet

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sēmi
  3. Latinsēmi-
  4. Englishsemi-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*sweh₂d-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*swéh₂dus
  7. Proto-Germanic*swōtuz
  8. Proto-West Germanic*swōtī
  9. Old Englishswēte
  10. Middle Englishswete
  11. Englishsweet
  12. Englishsemisweet

From semi- + sweet.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch halfzoet
  • halfzoetoenology
Finnish puolimakea
  • puolimakeaoenology
Polish półsłodki
  • półsłodkioenology
Cite this entry
APA

semisweet. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/semisweet

MLA

“semisweet.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/semisweet. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “semisweet,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/semisweet.

Source: semisweet on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.