pretty 1 of 3

pretty

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adjective

1
as in nice
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses she was not a pretty sight after she fell off her horse and into the mud

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

pretty

3 of 3

noun

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a pretty picture
a cute picture
a gorgeous picture
a beautiful picture
a lovely picture
a fabulous picture
a pretty place
a stunning place
a picturesque place
a scenic place
an aesthetic place
a gorgeous place
a pretty dress
a stylish dress
an adorable dress
a fabulous dress
a fashionable dress
a great dress
a pretty name
a lovely name
a neat name
a wonderful name
a pleasant name
a nice name

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective pretty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pretty are beautiful, comely, fair, handsome, and lovely. While all these words mean "exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure," pretty often applies to superficial or insubstantial attractiveness.

a painter of conventionally pretty scenes

When is beautiful a more appropriate choice than pretty?

The words beautiful and pretty can be used in similar contexts, but beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses.

beautiful mountain scenery

How do comely and handsome relate to one another, in the sense of pretty?

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

the comely grace of a dancer

Where would fair be a reasonable alternative to pretty?

In some situations, the words fair and pretty are roughly equivalent. However, fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness.

fair of face

When might handsome be a better fit than pretty?

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

a handsome Georgian mansion

How are the words lovely and beautiful related as synonyms of pretty?

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

a lovely melody

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 pretty
Adverb
The numbers are getting pretty big for a lot of guys and max salaries in this league, who does that go to? Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 May 2025 Team value becomes pretty much irrelevant now and information trumps all. Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 9 May 2025
Adjective
Garfinkel, also the Miami Dolphins’ CEO, should be feeling pretty ebullient these days. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025 Kendall Jenner, however, has kept it pretty chill this weekend. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 May 2025
Noun
From Saturday, March 1, to Saturday, April 12, 2025 pretty Venus goes retrograde. Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 28 Feb. 2025 Aimée and Trintignant are movie-star pretty, but Lelouch’s style gives them both a weighty humanity, as do their performances. Carmel Dagan, Variety, 18 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for pretty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretty
Adverb
  • The momentum is especially fast-paced, almost overly so, at the beginning, but the film settles over time into the relatively pleasant feel of a runaway train.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Some homes and businesses bounced back relatively quickly, while others languished in complicated situations with insurance companies and a drought of cash flow.
    Gwen Rockwood, Arkansas Online, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • While the formula played nice with the sensitive skin on our tester’s hairline, its toning effects only lasted a few days.
    Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 16 May 2025
  • But anyone hoping to hit the open road needs to know one thing: some drivers just aren't very nice, especially in certain states.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • This content is not, nor is intended to be, trading or investment advice or a recommendation that any investment product or strategy is suitable for any person.
    JJ Kinahan, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Securities, investment products, other financial products or strategies discussed herein may not be suitable for all investors.
    Katie Stockton, CNBC, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • Churches aren’t just beautiful buildings that uplift New York.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
  • The property has beautiful minimalist, modern design with pops of natural wood accents and stunning views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.
    Kimberley Mok, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • David Hockney is a good looker.
    Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
  • New battery technology aside, the keyboard is quite a looker.
    Zackery Cuevas, PCMAG, 7 Jan. 2025
Adverb
  • Montverde won the final event, the 4×400 relay, in 3 minutes 45.5 seconds but that wasn’t quite enough.
    Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025
  • Halper, of Top Ten Liquors, isn’t quite sure what to expect from the federal government.
    Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • But overall, this affordable bed frame offers a good mix of pleasant aesthetics and practical storage solutions.
    Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 15 May 2025
  • If busier weekends someday mean parking an extra block away, that will be a pleasant problem to solve.
    Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • During arguments before the Supreme Court, several of the justices expressed concerns about the use of nationwide injunctions, but John Sauer, President Donald Trump’s solicitor general, faced pushback this week about whether limiting injunctions was appropriate in this case.
    Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • But now, with what is happening, the title is even more appropriate.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 18 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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