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 This season’s most beautiful necklaces aren’t meant to be perfect. Selene Oliva, Glamour, 18 July 2026 That chance meeting eventually led me to call the beautiful twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago home. Chantel Henry, CNBC, 18 July 2026 Ousmane Dembele, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, played one beautiful pass to Mbappe early on but was otherwise peripheral. Stuart James, New York Times, 18 July 2026 Adjacent to the park is a beautiful neoclassical Catholic church and a lineup of restaurants with tables that spill out onto the park’s walkways and plazas. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for beautiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautiful
Adjective
  • This is an easy-drinking, refreshing wine with lovely fruit and some tannins to give it structure.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Just like lily of the valley, Canada mayflower has low-growing foliage and lovely white flowers.
    Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026
Adjective
  • And this World Cup was about Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and all of Spain’s wonderful passers.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • To be in, like, the very first episode to the last, a show that is now being spun off to other stories, that is so wonderful.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 July 2026
Adjective
  • Summer is coming to a close, so end it on a high note with a gorgeous gel manicure.
    Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 19 July 2026
  • The plants look gorgeous in spring, but by fall, many are dead.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
Adjective
  • The roofline leaves enough headroom for actual adults, the cargo area is genuinely useful, and visibility remains excellent.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 July 2026
  • City Colleges of Chicago, the University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago State University and National Louis University, among others, have built their reputations on the premise that everyone deserves access to an excellent education.
    Andrea Sáenz, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Adjective
  • Team them with a blouse and supportive flats for a cute vacation outfit.
    Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
  • Sugar tries to escape the violent path before him by going on a cute movie date with Charlotte.
    Andy Andersen, Vulture, 24 July 2026
Adjective
  • One hundred would be awesome, though, so that my children can get all the publishing.
    Ernesto Lechner, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • James was a Fanatics Fest participant and was reunited with the paper, which was at the Celebrity Mint table, completing an awesome full-circle moment.
    David Betancourt, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Adjective
  • This one had long, spirally fluted horns and was as handsome a trophy as anyone would want.
    Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 23 July 2026
  • The Vampire Diaries centers on orphaned teenager Elena Gilbert, who ends up falling in love with a handsome new student named Stefan Salvatore (Wesley).
    Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026
Adjective
  • My editor Lori and I have been eyeing the sparse market for fabulous toilets since March, but found none so ornate as these Mexican-style pieces.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2026
  • Of all the fabulous sideline styles, my favorite was, by far, an iconic matching moment between Martha Stewart and Victoria Beckham.
    Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 21 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Beautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beautiful. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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