Definition of beautifulnext
1
2

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 SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026 De Waal is really insightful, and his writing is just beautiful. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026 But the second chain saw jammed in Krisztina Furton's beautiful, thick hair. Troy Roberts, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026 Having been raised in a beautiful home with no material wants, Agnes knows little about the outside world. Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beautiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautiful
Adjective
  • One one side, a lovely mother and daughter in the middle of planning her wedding.
    Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
  • This is a lovely array of dresses, and it is pulled from a collection that DAM’s fans and supporters can easily admire.
    Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • But that is the context of a wonderful performance.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • And serialization is a glorious, wonderful thing that happens automatically to a show that people love.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Louise touched her phone screen to look at the picture of Diana again—gorgeous Diana smiling into the wind, all that thick hair billowing.
    Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
  • That’s where this utterly gorgeous face-framing look comes in.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Alliums are excellent neighbors to beets, brassicas, tomatoes, and more.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2026
  • This bracelet makes an excellent Mother’s Day jewelry gift.
    Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Best Amazon Shoes and Accessories Deals Round out your spring wardrobe with supportive shoes, cute bags, and fun accessories from brands like Brooks, Kate Spade, and Kendra Scott.
    Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026
  • In the middle of the garden is a seating area with simple but cute second-hand furniture and a three-tier stone fountain from Backyard X-Scapes on Sorrento Valley Road.
    Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • But these guys are awesome shooters, man.
    Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
  • There’s tons of awesome stuff happening outside of Austin with Noah Hawley and the [Taylor] Sheridan stuff.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The Moon in your 8th House of Delicate Topics soothes handsome Jupiter in your 4th House of Roots.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
  • This handsome boy is smart and loves to learn.
    Maryanne Dell, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The fabulous staff led by John O’Brien has seven seniors, including Luke DiSilvio (University of Tampa commit), catcher Drew George, Matt Tracy (1B/C), Dylan Nguyen (2B), Harris Hadzihasanovic (P/OF), Will Mandile (P/OF) and Joe Wozniak (P/1B) leading the charge for the Pioneers.
    Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
  • The Pleiades are fabulous through binoculars.
    Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beautiful. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on beautiful

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster