Delicious vs. Nice: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 9, 2023
Delicious primarily describes a pleasing taste, while Nice is a general term indicating approval or pleasantness.
Key Differences
Delicious and Nice, though frequently used as terms of approval, differ significantly in their range and specificity. Delicious is chiefly associated with taste, referring to something that delights the palate. It paints a vivid image of a dish so good, it captivates the senses. Nice, however, holds a broader canvas. It is a versatile word, suggesting something pleasant or agreeable, not limited to taste.
Delicious would most often be used to commend a meal or flavor. If someone says, "This cake is delicious," they're specifically praising its taste. On the other hand, Nice can stretch over myriad contexts, from commending someone's behavior to describing weather. Saying, "The weather is nice," communicates a general contentment without diving into specifics.
While Delicious anchors itself firmly in the realm of culinary delights, Nice can navigate diverse scenarios with ease. If a person notes, "She has a nice personality," it conveys a sense of general approval of the individual's demeanor or character. Conversely, using Delicious in contexts outside food can be seen as a playful exaggeration.
The beauty of the English language lies in its precision and adaptability. Delicious and Nice, while both expressing approval, provide different shades of appreciation. Understanding their distinct flavors can help one articulate sentiments more effectively.
Comparison Chart
Basic Definition
Pleasing to the taste.
Pleasant or agreeable.
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Primary Association
Taste or flavor.
General approval or pleasantness.
Usage Range
Primarily food and drink.
Broad, encompassing multiple contexts.
Intensity
Strong approval (in context of taste).
Moderate to mild approval.
Flexibility
Mostly limited to culinary context, but can be used playfully in other situations.
Highly versatile across various scenarios.
Delicious and Nice Definitions
Delicious
Enjoyable; causing pleasure.
The concert was a delicious experience.
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Nice
Pleasant or agreeable.
We had a nice time at the party.
Delicious
Pleasing to the taste.
The soup was absolutely delicious.
Nice
Exhibiting courtesy or politeness.
That was a nice gesture on her part.
Delicious
Highly delightful to the senses.
The aroma of the flowers was simply delicious.
Nice
Pleasing and agreeable in nature
Had a nice time.
A nice person.
Delicious
Irresistibly appealing.
The offer was deliciously tempting.
Nice
Having a pleasant or attractive appearance
A nice dress.
A nice face.
Delicious
Used figuratively to express approval.
The news was delicious to his ears.
Nice
Exhibiting courtesy and politeness
A nice gesture.
Delicious
Either of two varieties of apple, the Golden Delicious or the Red Delicious.
Nice
Of good character and reputation; respectable.
Delicious
Highly pleasing or agreeable to the senses, especially of taste or smell.
Nice
Overdelicate or fastidious; fussy.
Delicious
Very pleasant; delightful
A delicious revenge.
Nice
Showing or requiring great precision or sensitive discernment; subtle
A nice distinction.
A nice sense of style.
Delicious
Pleasing to the sense of taste; tasty.
Nice
Done with delicacy and skill
A nice bit of craft.
Delicious
Pleasing to a person's taste; pleasing to the eyes or mind.
The irony is delicious!
Nice
Used as an intensive with and
Nice and warm.
Delicious
(slang) Having tremendous sex appeal.
Nice
Wanton; profligate
"For when mine hours / Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives / Of me for jests" (Shakespeare).
Delicious
Affording exquisite pleasure; delightful; most sweet or grateful to the senses, especially to the taste; charming.
Some delicious landscape.
One draught of spring's delicious air.
Were not his words delicious?
Nice
Affectedly modest; coy
"Ere ... / The nice Morn on th' Indian steep, / From her cabin'd loop-hole peep" (John Milton).
Delicious
Addicted to pleasure; seeking enjoyment; luxurious; effeminate.
Others, lastly, of a more delicious and airy spirit, retire themselves to the enjoyments of ease and luxury.
Like the rich fruit he sings, delicious in decay.
No spring, nor summer, on the mountain seen,Smiles with gay fruits or with delightful green.
Nice
Pleasant, satisfactory.
Delicious
Variety of sweet eating apples
Nice
Of a person: friendly, attractive.
Delicious
Greatly pleasing or entertaining;
A delightful surprise
The comedy was delightful
A delicious joke
Nice
Respectable; virtuous.
What is a nice person like you doing in a place like this?
Delicious
Extremely pleasing to the sense of taste
Nice
Shows that the given adjective is desirable, or acts as a mild intensifier; pleasantly, quite.
The soup is nice and hot.
Nice
Showing refinement or delicacy, proper, seemly
A nice way of putting it
Nice
(obsolete) Silly, ignorant; foolish.
Nice
Particular in one's conduct; scrupulous, painstaking; choosy.
Nice
(dated) Having particular tastes; fussy, fastidious.
Nice
(obsolete) Particular as regards rules or qualities; strict.
Nice
Showing or requiring great precision or sensitive discernment; subtle.
Nice
(obsolete) Easily injured; delicate; dainty.
Nice
(obsolete) Doubtful, as to the outcome; risky.
Nice
(colloquial) Nicely.
Children, play nice.
He dresses real nice.
Nice
Used to signify a job well done.
Nice! I couldn't have done better.
Nice
Used to signify approval.
Is that your new car? Nice!
Nice
Niceness.
Nice
To run a process with a specified (usually lower) priority.
Nice
Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate.
But say that we ben wise and nothing nice.
Nice
Of trifling moment; unimportant; trivial.
The letter was not nice, but full of chargeOf dear import.
Nice
Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious in small matters.
Curious not knowing, not exact but nice.
And to tasteThink not I shall be nice.
Nice
Delicate; refined; dainty; pure.
Dear love, continue nice and chaste.
A nice and subtile happiness.
Nice
Apprehending slight differences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment.
Nice
Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application; exactly or fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as, a nice point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy.
The difference is too niceWhere ends the virtue, or begins the vice.
Nice
Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc.
Nice
Pleasant; kind; as, a nice person.
Nice
Well-mannered; well-behaved; as, nice children.
He's making a list, checking it twice.Gonna find out who's naughty or nice Santa Claus is coming to town.
Nice
A city in southeastern France on the Mediterranean; the leading resort on the French Riviera
Nice
Pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance;
What a nice fellow you are and we all thought you so nasty
Nice manners
A nice dress
A nice face
A nice day
Had a nice time at the party
The corn and tomatoes are nice today
Nice
Socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous;
From a decent family
A nice girl
Nice
Done with delicacy and skill;
A nice bit of craft
A job requiring nice measurements with a micrometer
A nice shot
Nice
Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted;
Too nice about his food to take to camp cooking
So squeamish he would only touch the toilet handle with his elbow
Nice
Noting distinctions with nicety;
A discriminating interior designer
A nice sense of color
A nice point in the argument
Nice
Exhibiting courtesy and politeness;
A nice gesture
Nice
Pleasing in appearance.
She wore a nice dress today.
Nice
Precise or subtle.
A nice distinction in the argument.
Nice
Satisfactory; adequate.
The performance was nice but not outstanding.
FAQs
What does Delicious primarily refer to?
Delicious primarily describes something pleasing to the taste, often related to food.
Can Nice be used to describe taste?
Yes, Nice can describe taste, but it's a more general term than Delicious and can apply to many other contexts as well.
Can you call a person Delicious?
Typically, Delicious isn't used for people unless in a playful or poetic sense. It might be considered inappropriate in regular conversation.
Is Delicious used only for food?
While Delicious is primarily used for food, it can be used figuratively or playfully in other contexts to indicate something highly enjoyable.
Are Delicious and Nice interchangeable?
No, while both indicate approval, Delicious is specific to taste and Nice is a broad term of approval.
Is Nice a stronger term of approval than Delicious?
Not necessarily. Delicious implies strong approval in terms of taste, while Nice is a moderate term of general approval.
Can Nice describe personality?
Yes, calling someone "nice" typically refers to them being kind, polite, or agreeable.
Is it correct to say "Nice meal"?
Yes, it indicates the meal was pleasant or agreeable, but not necessarily as high in praise as "Delicious meal."
What does it mean if someone says "nice effort"?
It generally means they appreciate the effort made, although it can vary in sincerity depending on context and tone.
Can "nice" refer to precision?
Yes, in contexts like "a nice distinction" or "a nice point," it indicates precision or subtlety.
Can Delicious be used to describe feelings?
Yes, in a figurative sense. For example, "a delicious sense of accomplishment."
Can you call a sunny day Delicious?
It's unconventional, but in a playful or poetic context, it might imply an especially delightful day.
Can you describe a movie as Delicious?
It's unconventional but can be used figuratively to mean the movie was a treat or very enjoyable.
How would you describe a meal that tastes good but isn't extraordinary?
You might say the meal was "Nice" or "Quite good."
What's a synonym for Delicious in terms of food?
Scrumptious or delectable are synonyms for Delicious.
Can "Nice" have negative connotations?
Depending on tone and context, "Nice" can sometimes be used sarcastically or insincerely.
Can you use Delicious to describe visual art?
While unconventional, it can be used to mean the art was especially delightful or pleasing to the senses.
Which word is more specific: Delicious or Nice?
Delicious is more specific, primarily indicating pleasing taste.
Is a "Delicious joke" about taste?
No, in this context, Delicious would mean the joke was particularly delightful or enjoyable.
If something is "too Nice," is that the same as Delicious?
No, "too Nice" might imply something is overly sweet or agreeable to the point of being insincere or cloying.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
