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a beautiful day
a perfect day
a gorgeous day
a nice day
a pretty day
beautiful music
elegant music
pleasant music
pretty music
lovely music
wonderful music
beautiful eyes
amazing eyes
pretty eyes
beautiful scenery
picturesque scenery
pristine scenery
spectacular scenery
breathtaking scenery
exquisite scenery
a beautiful baby
an adorable baby
a cute baby
a precious baby
a lovely baby
a gorgeous baby

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 The grounds are beautiful, the setting is tranquil, and the ceremonies held here every Memorial Day are filled with heartfelt patriotism. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025 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 Demi and Colman coming together for the first time to bring Jane Anderson’s beautiful script that illuminates the human condition to life, will be magic. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for beautiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautiful
Adjective
  • Why the lovely Mehri falls for such a loser — Hamid is one of the least charming grooms in recent memory — can only by explained by the lack of options available to her.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025
  • The scoring sequence followed a lovely Bobrovsky save on a shorthanded odd-man rush — the Cats firing on all cylinders.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Its deep, shiny green foliage is a wonderful complement to the perfectly peachy hue of each rose.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025
  • Colombia’s coastal cities are famous for their cuisine, but don’t overlook their wonderful street foods.
    Cat Sposato, AFAR Media, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • At the same time, its layers of details are gorgeous and priceless.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 May 2025
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade Soil Type: Medium to moist, well-draining, rich Soil pH: Neutral (6.5-7.5) USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 7 With lacy foliage and tall flower spikes, larkspur adds gorgeous texture and upright structure to the summer garden.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • During informational interviews, asking for ideas of great places to keep an eye on is an excellent way to add to your list.
    Rebecca Fraser-Thill, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Give your wooden nickel to the mixologist, take your pick between La Babia, an excellent margarita, or Three Emmas, grab a book off the shelf, and take a seat.
    Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • She has been married twice, marrying director Chris Calkins in 2009. 08 of 09 Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd Woody Harrelson's Woody Boyd joined Cheers in season 4 as a not-so-bright but very cute bartender.
    Kate Hogan, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • Located about 10 minutes from downtown, the winery has a tasting room and a cute patio for outdoor sipping.
    Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Shark can't escape trio of fish in 'awesome' underwater chase A remarkable scene unfolded in Florida waters as three fish began chasing a shark, which appeared to be pretty bothered by their attention.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2025
  • The settler spirit, much derided now, represented an awesome ability.
    Andrew Moore, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • The handsome and charismatic Lord Edward Fitzgerald, an Anglican son of a duke, renounced his title and commanded the society’s militia.
    Joseph Patrick Kelly, The Conversation, 20 May 2025
  • Ian had been handsome, popular, in love with a new girlfriend—the kind of golden boy upon whom fortune smiles.
    Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk line was fabulous Thursday.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
  • This is a fabulous day for romance and warm, loving relations with others, because the Moon is in your sign, lined up with Venus in your sign, which is also close to Neptune in your sign.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Beautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beautiful. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on beautiful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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