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 SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 13 May 2026 Time nearly stops and the animation slows as her beautiful face and shiny hair fills the screen and AJ’s awestruck eyes. Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 May 2026 Beyond being just a beautiful cosmic sight, the formations of dust and gas that comprise this galaxy are actually a star-forming region. Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 13 May 2026 The Ramona Sentinel wants to share your photos of the community’s beautiful scenery, residents and animals. Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for beautiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautiful
Adjective
  • The shatteringly crispy skin on these chicken thighs is achieved without frying, meaning less mess and oil, but the same lovely crunchy result.
    Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
  • There’s going to be a little inkling of the night shift personality in the next season, which will be lovely.
    Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • The aesthetic is going to go a lot of different places across Season 8, too, including two episodes in the round and the finale, which Badner wouldn’t dare spoil but is proud of the wonderful collaboration between the production design, camera, and lighting teams.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
  • Shrubs, such as American filbert (Corylus americana), are a wonderful way to add interest to your landscape throughout multiple seasons.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 19 May 2026
Adjective
  • Shot by Ryuto Kondo, who also served as cinematographer on Koreeda’s wonderful Palme d’Or-winning Shoplifters and the more recent Monster, the film looks sharp, with lots of striking aerial shots and gorgeous natural light in the many outdoors scenes.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
  • Riley Keough wears a gorgeous baby blue dress to the Chopard Trophy photo call at the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 15.
    People Staff, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • Christopher Sanchez has once again been excellent, and Jacob Misiorowski has often looked unhittable with over 14 strikeouts per nine innings.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
  • The excellent, nonprofit gallery and incubator known as PlatteForum has moved around a bit over the years, and will reopen in the Art District on Santa Fe starting June 5.
    John Wenzel, Denver Post, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • Walter, who had left the Progressive Labor Party, didn’t preach Marxism to his son, but Riley embraced a radical-left viewpoint on his own, after tagging along with some cute older girls who were participating in a cannery workers’ strike.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
  • He's described as being cute, with chin-length dark hair, dimples and a diamond stud in one ear.
    Jennifer McClellan, USA Today, 17 May 2026
Adjective
  • Australia’s awesome Alpha Wolf is on a world tour stopping in New Haven.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
  • This is right up my alley and the lineup was awesome.
    Jesse Kirshbaum, SPIN, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • It had, in fact, been rejected by all three major networks despite Lear’s handsome pedigree (his previous shows included the unequivocal successes All in the Family and Maude).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
  • To top it off, Rousey was able to secure a handsome payday for herself and Carano while also positioning herself to become a promoter and player in the MMA world as one of the faces of MVP MMA.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Adjective
  • But unlike in Berlin in the dead of winter and on the Venetian lagoon’s rather fabulous Lido at the far end of the Med’s back-to-school moment, the Cannes festival usually brings with it a kind of spring-fresh breeze.
    Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
  • Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Meg Ryan, Tom Skerritt, Tim Robbins, Kelly McGillis and James Tolkan, among other fabulous actors, demonstrate their divine talents and commitment to character development, taking us on a journey like no other into the universe of naval aviation.
    Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Beautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beautiful. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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