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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
Best Hotels & Resorts Pousada do Vale Just a short walk from Noronha’s historic center, Pousada do Vale is a lush, garden-like refuge with a lovely spa. Carla Vianna, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025 Oh, what a lovely thing to say. Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
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
  • The Christos honored their promise by gifting me with a wonderful collage in addition to my one-dollar paycheck.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • That scene was so incredibly awkward… and wonderful.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Big Lonely Doug is a sight to behold—achingly beautiful yet incredibly sad.
    Brad Badelt, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Tailoring is core to the DNA of VB and so every collection includes beautiful cashmere or wool coats that have a fashion-forward design, but also won’t date quickly.
    Emma Spedding, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The 34-year-old Democratic socialist’s win in the primary was a stunner, shaking up a race than many thought was Cuomo’s to lose.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The International Olympic Committee picked Atlanta, in something of a stunner, over Athens, Greece.
    John Archibald, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Thus far, Arsenal’s excellent form has relegated the injuries to a subplot.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The carbon nanofiber provides mechanical stability, abundant pore channels, and excellent electrolyte wettability, while the cobalt sites catalyze the adsorption and conversion of polysulfides.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Blue-green foliage and a columnar habit make for a gorgeous specimen in tight spaces.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
  • More than 70 years later, White Christmas still looks gorgeous, positively popping with berry reds, snowy whites, and minty greens.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The poem is littered with gut punches that would destroy me as a parent; Lee sees the poem’s beauty and appears to feel appropriate shame.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
  • This picturesque lakeside destination is increasingly attracting affluent foreign buyers, drawn by the stunning natural beauty and newly relaxed Golden Visa program.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Her clarion voice slices through the show’s labored attempts to be both fable and fabulous.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Nordstrom’s epic fall sale is brimming with fabulous deals on breathable layers, packable outerwear, holiday-ready get-ups, cozy sweaters, and more.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Fall travel season is here, and my suitcase is officially in its comfy-but-cute era.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Shoppers call out the cute and functional design.
    Kim Grundy, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lovely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lovely. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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