lovely 1 of 2

1
2

lovely

2 of 2

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
Prettygarden Floral Midi Dress This midi style with a smocked waist would make a lovely fall wedding guest dress. Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2025 But here, the support of this audience of peers gave wing to the performances, which were perhaps humble by professional standards but lovely in their authenticity and free-wheeling (literally) in their unabashedness. Cory Trenda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lovely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lovely
Adjective
  • The ‘Mahabharat’ enabled by AI is a wonderful example of how tradition and technology can work hand in hand.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Again and again, striking out into the unknown led to wonderful new possibilities, making my life grow larger and deeper.
    Sarah Chamberlain, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
  • An enemy may have invaded your beautiful, green lawn, leaving it ugly and brown.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • On rare sale for 16 percent off, this stunner comes with multiple zippered pockets, including a main compartment large enough for a 13-inch laptop, as well as a crossbody strap and four protective feet at the bottom to protect the bag from scuffs.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Comically spacious and listed as a one-bedroom, but could easily be a two-bed, two-bath stunner.
    Katie McDonough, Curbed, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Sims said Kaiser offers competitive pay and excellent health benefits, and is already reducing internal costs to make its latest wage offer to the Alliance of Health Care Unions — of which UNAC/UCHP is a member.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Alabama’s Ty Simpson was excellent, finishing 23-for-31 for 200 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
    Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Rem went 1-2-3 on the top line, and Rhett scored a gorgeous short-handed goal late.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Just up the road, Seminary Hill is a working orchard and cidery with a gorgeous timber-frame tasting room complete with pristine views of the Delaware River and beyond.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 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
  • These stops boast fabulous flights, outdoor patios, world-class sunsets, and serene mountain views, even friendly farm animals at Peaks of Otter Winery.
    Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
  • For its relatively small footprint, Hôtel Place d'Armes punches far above its weight from a culinary POV, with a fabulous on-site brasserie, a trendy sushi bar, and a panoramic roof terrace (open seasonally) that’s widely considered one of the city’s best spots for outdoor drinks with a view.
    Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There are also two new delightfully cute additions to the collection — a shiny gold pair that would look radiant on warm-tone complexions and a pair that’s as stylishly macabre as the others, only smaller in size.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The songs remind kids that costumes can be cute and colorful instead of frightening.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 10 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lovely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lovely. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on lovely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!