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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective beautiful differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of beautiful are comely, fair, handsome, lovely, and pretty. While all these words mean "exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure," beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses.

beautiful mountain scenery

How are the words comely and handsome related as synonyms of beautiful?

Comely is like handsome in suggesting what is coolly approved rather than emotionally responded to.

the comely grace of a dancer

When can fair be used instead of beautiful?

The words fair and beautiful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness.

fair of face

When could handsome be used to replace beautiful?

While in some cases nearly identical to beautiful, handsome suggests aesthetic pleasure due to proportion, symmetry, or elegance.

a handsome Georgian mansion

How do lovely and beautiful relate to one another?

Lovely is close to beautiful but applies to a narrower range of emotional excitation in suggesting the graceful, delicate, or exquisite.

a lovely melody

In what contexts can pretty take the place of beautiful?

The words pretty and beautiful can be used in similar contexts, but pretty often applies to superficial or insubstantial attractiveness.

a painter of conventionally pretty scenes

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of beautiful If the aesthetic and wide range of features appeal to you, now is a great time to grab a pair of these beautiful headphones at $120 off. PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025 Taylor is a beautiful gospel singer from the country. Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Oct. 2025 Witness the unique wildlife and beautiful views of this archipelago from the sea. Jordan Harvey, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025 The Orionids is a fast, bright meteor shower known as one of the year's most beautiful, according to NASA. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beautiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautiful
Adjective
  • Aspen Nature Loop – Another easy and lovely hike is Aspen Nature Loop, just across the parking lot from Kachina Trail.
    Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
  • But another lovely thing this week has been the life of the mind.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The ‘Mahabharat’ enabled by AI is a wonderful example of how tradition and technology can work hand in hand.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Again and again, striking out into the unknown led to wonderful new possibilities, making my life grow larger and deeper.
    Sarah Chamberlain, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In addition to gorgeous overwater bungalows and incredible on-site restaurants, the resort also has a resident marine biologist, Tobar.
    Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Mirrors that extend over 5 feet tall typically increase in price by hundreds of dollars, but right now, a gorgeous design by New England Stories is available at a fraction of the cost today.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Sims said Kaiser offers competitive pay and excellent health benefits, and is already reducing internal costs to make its latest wage offer to the Alliance of Health Care Unions — of which UNAC/UCHP is a member.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Alabama’s Ty Simpson was excellent, finishing 23-for-31 for 200 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
    Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There are also two new delightfully cute additions to the collection — a shiny gold pair that would look radiant on warm-tone complexions and a pair that’s as stylishly macabre as the others, only smaller in size.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The songs remind kids that costumes can be cute and colorful instead of frightening.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • It’s been awesome for our team getting a guy like that.
    Scott Powers, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • There’s a beautiful string arrangement by David Davidson, who also worked on the original record, and Martin Terefe, who’s my oldest collaborator, produced, so that was awesome.
    Gary Graff, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Here’s a handsome Japanese cutting board that’s designed to minimize stress on your hand and lengthen the life of your chef’s knives.
    Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Dodge had already poured out her heart in letters to Stein, expressing her dissatisfaction with her husband and her passion for her son’s handsome young tutor.
    Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This fabulous nude color lipstick really makes the face.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Jisoo, a member of Blackpink, was one of the most camera savvy of the attendees, getting shots with a bevy of fabulous girls at the show.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Beautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beautiful. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on beautiful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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