sweet-and-sour

adjective

ˌswē-tᵊn-ˈsau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce sweet-and-sour (audio)
: seasoned with a sauce containing sugar and vinegar or lemon juice
sweet-and-sour shrimp

Examples of sweet-and-sour in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Immediately, your tongue is filled with a sweet-and-sour tang. — Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 28 Feb. 2025 The standout dish of the meal was a simple preparation of leeks that was topped with oozy stracciatella cheese, an herbaceous sweet-and-sour vinaigrette shot through with tarragon, and the toasty crunch of hazelnuts. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweet-and-sour was in 1928

Rhymes for sweet-and-sour

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Browse Nearby Words

sweet amber
sweet-and-sour
sweet anise
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Cite this Entry

“Sweet-and-sour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweet-and-sour. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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