sweeter

Sweeter is the comparative form of the adjective sweet. It describes a higher degree of sweetness or a more pleasing or agreeable quality than something else. For example, apples can be sweeter than pears, or a song can sound sweeter to a listener than another.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from Old English swete and is related to other Germanic languages, such as Dutch zoet and German süß. The exact root is uncertain, but the cognates across Germanic languages reflect a long-standing sense of pleasant taste or agreeable qualities. In modern English, sweeter is used mainly to compare taste or sensory impressions, and is also extended metaphorically to describe memories, voices, or experiences that feel more pleasant.

Grammar and style: Sweeter forms the standard comparative; the superlative is sweetest. In most contemporary writing, “more sweet” is avoided in favor of either “sweeter” or, in some contexts, rephrasing (for example, “more sweet-tasting”). The word can function as a predicate adjective (“The tea is sweeter today”) or as an attributive adjective (“a sweeter apple”). It is common in both everyday speech and descriptive writing.

See also: sweet, sweetness, taste, sensory evaluation.