pretty

¹pret·ty

adj \ˈpri-tē, ˈpər- also ˈpru̇-\

pret·ti·erpret·ti·est

Definition of PRETTY

1

a : artful, clever b : pat, apt

2

a : pleasing by delicacy or grace b : having conventionally accepted elements of beauty c : appearing or sounding pleasant or nice but lacking strength, force, manliness, purpose, or intensity <pretty words that make no sense — Elizabeth B. Browning>

3

a : miserable, terrible <a pretty mess you've gotten us into> b chiefly Scottish : stout

4

: moderately large : considerable <a very pretty profit> <cost a pretty penny>

5

: easy to enjoy : pleasant —usually used in negative constructions <reality is not so pretty — Caleb Solomon>

— pret·ti·ly \-tə-lē\ adverb

— pret·ty·ish \-tē-ish\ adjective

Examples of PRETTY

1. He made a pretty profit selling his antique car.
2. She received a pretty sum of money.
3. This white shape stood apart by the hedge alone. From her position he knew it to be the pretty maiden with whom he had not danced. Trifling as the matter was, he yet instinctively felt that she was hurt by his oversight. —Thomas Hardy, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, 1891
4. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much. —Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813

Origin of PRETTY

Middle English praty, prety, from Old English prættig tricky, from prætt trick; akin to Old Norse prettr trick

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to PRETTY

Synonyms: agreeable, blessed (also blest), congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, good, grateful, gratifying, heavenly, jolly, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasing, pleasurable, pleasant, satisfying, savory (also savoury), sweet, tasty, welcome

Antonyms: disagreeable, pleasureless, unpalatable, unpleasant, unwelcome

Related Words: alluring, attractive, desirable, enviable, inviting, relishable, tempting; charming, enchanting, fascinating; calming, comforting, soothing; amusing, diverting, entertaining, recreative; affable, amiable, cheerful, cheery, comfortable, gemütlich, genial, goodly, good-natured, gracious, hospitable, kindly, personable; blissful, felicific, glad, happy, joyous; elating, exhilarating, intoxicating; ecstatic, euphoric, nirvanic, rapturous

Near Antonyms: abominable, ghastly, god-awful, hellish, horrid, miserable, wretched; bilious, disgusting, distasteful, obnoxious, offensive, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revulsive, unsavory, vile, yucky (also yukky); abhorrent, detestable, hateful, odious; boring, commonplace, dull, flat, insipid, irksome, stale, tedious; displeasing, dissatisfying; depressing, disheartening, dismal, dreary, gloomy, heartbreaking, heartrending, joyless, lachrymose, sad, unhappy; deplorable, doleful, dolorous, lamentable, lugubrious, mournful, regrettable, sorrowful, tragic (also tragical); aggravating, annoying, exasperating, irritating, peeving, perturbing, vexing; forbidding; hostile, intimidating; angering, enraging, incensing, inflaming (also enflaming), infuriating, maddening, outraging, rankling, riling; distressing, disturbing, upsetting

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Rhymes with PRETTY

bitty, city, ditty, gritty, kitty, pity, tittie, witty