Meaning & use
semisweet
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Having a moderate amount of sugar, less sweet than milk chocolate but sweeter than bittersweet.
Grammar: Describes chocolate or similar products; not usually used with -er/-est.
Patterns
- semisweet chocolate
- semisweet chocolate chips
The recipe calls for semisweet chocolate, which balances sweetness and cocoa flavor.
She prefers semisweet chocolate to milk chocolate because it is less sugary.
Melt the semisweet chocolate in a bowl over hot water.
Common combinations
- semisweet chocolate
- Use semisweet chocolate for the cake batter.
- semisweet chocolate chips
- Add a cup of semisweet chocolate chips to the cookie dough.
- semisweet baking chocolate
- The brownies are made with semisweet baking chocolate.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bittersweet
- Bittersweet chocolate has less sugar and a stronger cocoa taste; semisweet is a bit sweeter.
- dark
- Dark chocolate is a broad category that includes semisweet and bittersweet; semisweet is more specific about sugar level.
Opposites
Practice
Which type of chocolate is typically called semisweet?
Choose one answer.
Semisweet chocolate has a moderate amount of sugar, sweeter than bittersweet but less sweet than milk chocolate. White and unsweetened are different categories.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “semisweet”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.