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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 All the beautiful lines have been ruined. Sean Evans, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025 Designing it for the 12-inch vinyl release was easy; the images would be large and beautiful. Melinda Newman, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025 There's a continuum about it that's just absolutely beautiful. Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025 That's Stiniva Beach—a slightly hard-to-reach shoreline that was once voted the most beautiful beach in Europe. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beautiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautiful
Adjective
  • Regardless, Jones should still be a significant part of the rotation — his excellent field goal percentage and contributions in assists and steals are quite lovely.
    Stan Son, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Undermining the existing system for partisan ends won’t make the picture look any lovelier.
    Michael Hiltzik, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • She's been gone for over 20 years, and so to win this for a soap opera, playing a villain, is really wonderful.
    Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Some, like the two headlining Christie’s upcoming Rare Watches auction in Geneva, have wonderful horological anomalies that set them apart from more run-of-the-mill references.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Black Swan excels by offering breathtaking dance choreography, and the film's gorgeous cinematography provides viewers with a tapestry of imagery unparalleled by most psychological horror films.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Zaha had already scored the first goal of the match, in the 24th minute on a gorgeous offensive series from Charlotte FC.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Steelers will have an opportunity to get back on track against an excellent Green Bay Packers squad next Sunday, before playing the Indianapolis Colts two days before the NFL trade deadline.
    Jon Conahan, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
  • That’s because tipping isn’t in their culture, but Americans still might wish to add gratuity for excellent service.
    Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Labubu craze doesn’t seem to be dying down any time soon, as new, mainstream, and rare editions are all in high demand, and fans often look for clothing and event advent calendars to accompany their cute yet scary figurines.
    Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The girls want to be cute, too.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • On our campus, Bobbi Acosta, our (assistant principal), and principal Juan Gonzalez have been more than awesome.
    John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
  • That was an awesome couple of months.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Old photographs show them on windblown mountain peaks, looking scruffily handsome and nearly indistinguishable.
    Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Grant was dazzlingly handsome, of course, but something else about him had leapt off the screen and captured her imagination.
    Adrienne LaFrance, The Atlantic, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Merkins were first developed in 1450, per the Oxford Companion to the Body, and were created so that women could shave off pubic lice without sacrificing that fabulous bush.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
  • From slim soccer trainers to extra-chunky styles, the decade was filled with a whole variety of options that remain as fabulous as ever.
    Renata Joffre, Glamour, 19 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Beautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beautiful. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on beautiful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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