Definition of beautifulnext
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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 Those beautiful periwinkle blooms are wonderful to see but sticky and toxic to the paint on your car. Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 3 June 2026 Like Vogüé, it's recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2026 Maastricht, Netherlands — arguably as beautiful as Amsterdam and far less crowded, with a network of underground casemates beneath the city, vineyards in the surrounding countryside and a compact center easily explored on foot. Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026 Maastricht, The Netherlands — Arguably as beautiful as Amsterdam and far less crowded, Maastricht sits on both sides of the Meuse River, surrounded by stunning countryside and historic castles. Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for beautiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautiful
Adjective
  • Staff are uniformly lovely and helpful.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
  • Any guy currently punching well above his weight class with a lovely girlfriend knows that truth intuitively.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Adjective
  • Cutting a ribbon, celebrating this wonderful binational relationship, and the wonderful Gordie Howe Bridge that is the new crossing linking Windsor and Detroit.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 9 June 2026
  • However, while this plant is wonderful for home gardens and dinner tables, not all plants will work well as its neighbor.
    Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • Carmen Electra wears a gorgeous sheer black dress to the premiere of Scary Movie 6 on June 3 in Los Angeles.
    People Staff, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
  • Tomatoes from Plant City are gorgeous, deep and dark.
    Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2026
Adjective
  • There are beautiful lake-side beaches and excellent trout fishing.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 June 2026
  • The jury, under the excellent presidency of Park Chan-wook, who was both generous and confident, had extremely varied and highly democratic debates.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 June 2026
Adjective
  • Keep scrolling to start the season strong with ’90s-but-better jelly mules, cute lightweight dresses, and a sling bag that’s about to become your water bottle’s new best friend.
    Annie Blackman, InStyle, 6 June 2026
  • Bonus points for picking separates in the same color palette (red and white is a particularly cute, preppy combo, as shown above).
    Kelsey Stewart, Glamour, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • Having a product [like the serum] cover five steps in one is so awesome.
    Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
  • His latest victory is some awesome YouTube content.
    David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • The European film commissioners tried to steer them away from casting a handsome actor as the lead in The Man Who Sold His Skin, Cheikhrouha said.
    Jada Yuan, HollywoodReporter, 7 June 2026
  • Then, Chan-wook tosses in a twist, and then another, and the film’s handsome veneer is removed to unveil the wickedly sinister tones lurking beneath.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • The backstory The 1 Hotel has taken over what was formerly the Hotel Vitale, which always had fabulous bones (lots of windows, spacious guest rooms) but had been feeling a little frayed for the last few years of its existence.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who is fabulous at his job, seriously had this to say following the hearing.
    Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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