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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
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
Noun
For an easy stroll, the Fox Hollow Trail is a lovely loop that leads you through land once home to a family farm in the 1930s. Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025 The park is lovely, the president of baseball operations knows ball (and is a very motivated competitor). Levi Weaver, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lovely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lovely
Adjective
  • Skor bars are a nonnegotiable addition; the cookies have the perfect toffee-to-chocolate ratio and wonderful texture.
    The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Today’s tech news follows; have a wonderful weekend.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Then something really beautiful happens.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The fish was a beautiful, rich color and had great flavor, but the pieces were uneven in shape and size, with some of them clearly cut from the center of the fish and some from the thinner ends.
    Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In a stunner, Hollis defeated Morgan Pope to win Part 3 of the three-part HOH competition.
    Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The artistic contribution award went to Chinese production designers Tu Nan and Liu Qiang for their work on Bi Gan’s arthouse stunner Resurrection.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Bader was excellent early Saturday, notching a sacrifice fly to drive in Realmuto and hustling to right-center for a diving catch in the fifth.
    Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Both are excellent places for birding, boating, fishing, hiking, and finding a little peace and quiet.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The animation styles, varying from episode to episode, are all dynamic and gorgeous, paying homage to both a classic anime style and Star Wars' own more wry feeling.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Gomez is seen wearing a gorgeous white gown, and Blanco looked dapper in a black suit and bowtie.
    Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Fans at home got an eyeful as muscleman Mike Munz, vocal duo Crash Adams, acrobatic pair The TT Boys, dance act The Funkateers Dancers, singing ensemble The Birmingham Youth Fellowship Choir, and others got down to business.
    Lars Brandle, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Get an eyeful of Davidson on The Tonight Show in the interview above.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • Lamar Jackson has been fabulous in outscoring his own hugely disappointing defense.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Start the competition out with a bang, and just have a fabulous time through it.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The brand’s Deep Trance Corduroy Pants are also a cute option to wear with some boots and a pea or trench coat this season.
    Shawna Hudson, StyleCaster, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Best Toy for Imaginative Play Plant the seeds of creative play with this trio of plush toy veggies that are too cute to eat.
    Pamela Brill, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lovely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lovely. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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