plural misos
: a fermented paste that is used especially in Japanese cuisine, that consists chiefly of soybeans, salt, and usually grain (such as barley or rice), and that has a savory taste ranging from very salty to somewhat sweet
… miso, the savory paste that flavors everything in Japanese cuisine from soups and pickles to dressings for salads.—
Harris Salat
Harris SalatDarker misos, such as brown and red, are fermented longer and have a stronger flavor. Lighter-colored misos have been fermented for less time, and have a milder, less salty flavor …—Robin Asbell
Robin AsbellMiso is teeming with protein, B vitamins and minerals, and rich in glutamates, which give food that meaty taste known as umami.—Carole Kotkin
Carole Kotkin… miso paste is made by fermenting soybeans and sometimes grains (such as rice, barley, or rye) with a mold …—Cook's Illustrated
Cook's IllustratedWe live on rice, fish, pickles, noodles, and miso soup, made from soybeans.—James Fallows
James FallowsExamples of miso in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Order their house made Japanese curry or the traditional Japanese meal set, beautifully presented bento-style, includes rice, miso soup, roasted cod, and a variety of small bites.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, the endless regional and personal variations of miso soup and pickles mean each shop’s set is just a little different.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025
The recipe includes two kinds of cheese, a delicious spicy Korean miso sauce and Gochujang mayo, which consists of eggs, sunflower oil, mustard and a variety of herbs.
—Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2025
The latter has a rich umami punch, likely attributable to the use of roasted black sesame, white sesame and spicy miso, creating levels of flavor that hit all of the senses at once.
—Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miso
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.
Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, the endless regional and personal variations of miso soup and pickles mean each shop’s set is just a little different.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025
The recipe includes two kinds of cheese, a delicious spicy Korean miso sauce and Gochujang mayo, which consists of eggs, sunflower oil, mustard and a variety of herbs.
—Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2025
The latter has a rich umami punch, likely attributable to the use of roasted black sesame, white sesame and spicy miso, creating levels of flavor that hit all of the senses at once.
—Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miso
Cite this Entry
“Miso.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miso. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share