sweetness
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /swˈiːtnəs/
US
- /ˈswitnəs/
Description
- Pleasant taste
- kindness
- charm
This word is not only about sugar. It can describe the pleasant taste of honey, fruit, or chocolate, but it can also describe kindness, warmth, and charm in a person or action. A gentle gesture may have this quality, and someone with a caring nature may be known for it. Think of a summer peach: delicious, soft, and comforting.
It appears in many common situations, from flavor ("the sweetness of ripe berries") to personality ("her natural sweetness drew people to her"). It can also suggest something tender and short-lived, like "the sweetness of youth." In "bittersweet," it mixes with sadness, showing that pleasure and pain can exist together.
Sweetness is a rich word that goes far beyond taste. In the most direct sense, it names the pleasant flavor we notice in sugar, ripe fruit, honey, candy, and other foods. You might speak of the sweetness of a mango on a hot day or the sweetness of fresh berries in summer.
But the word also describes human qualities. It can mean kindness, gentleness, warmth, or charm in a person, a voice, a smile, or an action. A person with a sweet nature is easy to like and pleasant to be around. A forgiving reply after an argument may carry a quiet sense of sweetness too.
The word is also used in a more figurative way. People speak of the sweetness of success, the sweetness of victory, or the sweetness of old memories. In these cases, it points to a deep feeling of pleasure, comfort, or emotional value rather than literal taste.
Sometimes it appears beside sadness. The word "bittersweet" shows how joy and pain can exist together, so this idea is not always simple or cheerful. It can describe something lovely that is also passing, such as the sweetness of childhood or the sweetness of a final goodbye.
Whether it refers to flavor, personality, or memory, sweetness suggests something pleasing, gentle, and emotionally warm.
Examples
- 1
Flavor balance
The sauce had just enough sweetness to balance the chili.
- 2
Fruit ripeness
The peaches lose some of their sweetness when they aren't fully ripe.
- 3
Voice quality
I was surprised by the sweetness of her voice on the phone.
- 4
Personal kindness
Despite his strict manner, there was real sweetness in the way he spoke to his daughter.
- 5
Literary tone
The book has a quiet sweetness that makes it easy to love.
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- sweetnessnoun
Forms
- sweetnessespluralnoun