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Definition of lovelynext
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lovely

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective lovely differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lovely are beautiful, comely, fair, handsome, and pretty. While all these words mean "exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure," lovely is close to beautiful but applies to a narrower range of emotional excitation in suggesting the graceful, delicate, or exquisite.

a lovely melody

When could beautiful be used to replace lovely?

The words beautiful and lovely are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 lovely?

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

the comely grace of a dancer

When is fair a more appropriate choice than lovely?

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

fair of face

When would handsome be a good substitute for lovely?

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

a handsome Georgian mansion

When is it sensible to use pretty instead of lovely?

Although the words pretty and lovely have much in common, 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 lovely
Adjective
As expected, some people gave gifts anyway, some made donations and some wrote lovely cards. Judith Martin, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026 My compliments to Tribune photographer Antonio Perez on his lovely front-page photo. Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
The first flowering of the reblooming variety of these perennial lovelies is in June. Erynn Hassinger, Country Living, 22 Apr. 2023 No, Colin Frissell hooking up with the three lovelies in Wisconsin. Kyle Smith, National Review, 10 Dec. 2019 See All Example Sentences for lovely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lovely
Adjective
  • Thank you all for a wonderful discussion.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
  • The team Pep Guardiola built in the early 2010s, combining the wonderful passing of Xavi Hernandez and Andrés Iniesta with the twinkling magic of Lionel Messi, will forever be remembered.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Monticello is stunningly beautiful.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
  • For those who aren’t aware of the background, Bertone is a legendary Italian auto design house famous for cars like the beautiful Alfa GTV (1963–77) and the bedroom-poster favorite, the Lamborghini Countach of 1974.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Valencia is unbeaten in seven straight games and has accumulated a 16-1 goal differential in its last five Foothill League games, including a 5-0 stunner at Hart.
    Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Just look at last February, when the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off an all-time stunner by acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in the middle of the night.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The German is an excellent all-round forward who excels in bringing the best out of the teammates around him.
    Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • While not every product in the brand’s SOS collection includes hypochlorous acid (an excellent anti-acneic ingredient), the serum does.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • But for all his contributions to the dialogue of pop, the gorgeous internal monologue of The Return of the Durutti Column still produces a unique echo.
    Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
  • So despite the critiques, this drama has clearly found an audience, whether through the gorgeous costume and production design or Elordi’s stunning performance as the monster.
    Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Not for escapism, per se – Roseberry’s Schiaparelli show, one of his finest and weirdest to date, vibrated with implications about our world’s rigid definition of beauty, with horns, feathers and splashes of neon – but for indulgence.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Our mother figures and friends can serve as the best sources of inspiration for beauty tips and tricks, thanks to many years of trial and error.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Lisa stepped onto the red carpet and seemingly out of a fairytale, wearing a sheer, black gown that reads witchy forest nymph in the most fabulous way.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Also playing tricks on the eyes was the Golden Globes carpet itself, which could've easily been mistaken for the fashion ball's famous steps in New York City, where stars of the past, present and future show off their fabulous attire every first Monday in May.
    Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Dozens of the cute, little cheesecakes were sitting in a cooler near the cashier in Boardwalk Pizza.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The pieces trailing off the bodice as her skirt, lined with green fur, are not cute.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lovely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lovely. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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