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a beautiful day
a perfect day
a gorgeous day
a nice day
a pretty day
beautiful music
elegant music
pleasant music
pretty music
lovely music
wonderful music
beautiful eyes
amazing eyes
pretty eyes
beautiful scenery
picturesque scenery
pristine scenery
spectacular scenery
breathtaking scenery
exquisite scenery
a beautiful baby
an adorable baby
a cute baby
a precious baby
a lovely baby
a gorgeous baby

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 With white sand and emerald water, there’s honestly not much else required for an excellent beach vacation, but the destination overdelivers with a long list of attractions, great restaurants, and beautiful stays. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 9 May 2025 The cabinet is designed to accommodate TVs of up to 65 inches, and it’s made from a combination of wood and handwoven rattan-esque doors to create a beautiful piece of furniture in a warm, light honey finish. Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025 There is the beautiful proverb about the woman of strength (Proverbs 31:10-31), that is perhaps the most eloquent text on women in the Bible. Arkansas Online, 9 May 2025 Set on the rugged and beautiful south Kona coast, this place of refuge was a safe haven for those who broke the kapu or sacred laws, transgressions punishable by death in old Hawaii. Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beautiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautiful
Adjective
  • Flavors of light red fruit, cherry tart and sparking acidity with a lovely finish and pronounced length.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • The plot is basic and the dialogue merely serviceable, but there are lovely scenery shots throughout, the vastness, gentle light and deep colors of the American West illustrated carefully and evocatively by Hutchins’ — and Cline’s — camera work.
    Jocelyn Noveck, Boston Herald, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Its deep, shiny green foliage is a wonderful complement to the perfectly peachy hue of each rose.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025
  • Colombia’s coastal cities are famous for their cuisine, but don’t overlook their wonderful street foods.
    Cat Sposato, AFAR Media, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade Soil Type: Medium to moist, well-draining, rich Soil pH: Neutral (6.5-7.5) USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 7 With lacy foliage and tall flower spikes, larkspur adds gorgeous texture and upright structure to the summer garden.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 18 May 2025
  • Loose, fluttery sleeves add gorgeous detailing to its otherwise simple silhouette, while its V-neck cut is especially flattering without revealing too much skin.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Maddison is responsible for dropping deep and pinging passes into dangerous areas, while Kulusevski and Bergvall are excellent ball-carriers.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 12 May 2025
  • The Spa The wellness spaces were not yet ready during my visit, so the hotel arranged an excellent massage in my suite.
    David Shortell, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • She has been married twice, marrying director Chris Calkins in 2009. 08 of 09 Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd Woody Harrelson's Woody Boyd joined Cheers in season 4 as a not-so-bright but very cute bartender.
    Kate Hogan, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • Located about 10 minutes from downtown, the winery has a tasting room and a cute patio for outdoor sipping.
    Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Shark can't escape trio of fish in 'awesome' underwater chase A remarkable scene unfolded in Florida waters as three fish began chasing a shark, which appeared to be pretty bothered by their attention.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2025
  • There will be lots of games, carnival-type rides, food booths, awesome entertainment and free admission.
    Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • The handsome and charismatic Lord Edward Fitzgerald, an Anglican son of a duke, renounced his title and commanded the society’s militia.
    Joseph Patrick Kelly, The Conversation, 20 May 2025
  • Ian had been handsome, popular, in love with a new girlfriend—the kind of golden boy upon whom fortune smiles.
    Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club looks forward to hosting the event again next year, promising even more excitement, community spirit, and fabulous designer handbags.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2025
  • In fact, his goal, after a fabulous assist by Leroy Sané, was almost Mülleresque.
    Manuel Veth, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Beautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beautiful. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on beautiful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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