Synonyms of lovely

lovely 1 of 2

adjective

ˈləv-lē 

1

as in wonderful

of the very best kind

thanked their hosts for the lovely time they had at the party

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wonderful
• beautiful
• excellent
• fabulous
• great
• awesome
• fantastic
• terrific
• superb
• marvelous
• stellar
• fine
• prime
• hot
• neat
• heavenly
• classic
• cool
• famous
• splendid
• quality
• fab
• divine
• brave
• sensational
• good
• slick
• exceptional
• nifty
• noble
• superlative
• peachy
• groovy
• grand
• dandy
• first-class
• top
• immense
• top-notch
• first-rate
• superior
• high-class
• fantabulous
• keen
• sterling
• cracking
• par excellence
• choice
• swell
• banner
• too much
• topping
• prize
• decent
• out of this world
• top-shelf
• unsurpassed
• mean
• crackerjack
• dynamite
• righteous
• blue-chip
• frontline
• supernal
• radical
• blue-ribbon
• gone
• capital
• special
• boss
• bonny
• A1
• number one
• better
• dope
• bumper
• peachy keen
• topflight
• out-of-sight
• primo
• wizard
• first-string
• bully
• adequate
• tip-top
• jim-dandy
• top-of-the-line
• bang-up
• gangbusters
• prizewinning
• down
• brag
• corking
• acceptable
• five-star
• satisfactory
• A-OK
• gilt-edged
• hype
• boffo
• four-star
• traditional
• phat
• classical
• numero uno
• fancy
• tolerable
• OK
• all right
• passable
• premium
• high-grade
• select
• standard
• high-test
• superfine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poor
• terrible
• awful
• vile
• pathetic
• wretched
• lousy
• rotten
• atrocious
• bad
• unsatisfactory
• inferior
• substandard
• execrable
• low-grade
• mediocre
• second-class
• middling
• second-rate

2

as in beautiful

very pleasing to look at

a lovely painting of young girls in their summer dresses

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beautiful
• gorgeous
• cute
• handsome
• pretty
• attractive
• stunning
• good
• charming
• delightful
• elegant
• glorious
• likely
• beauteous
• ravishing
• perfect
• goodly
• magnificent
• good-looking
• sexy
• fascinating
• comely
• aesthetic
• superb
• fair
• drop-dead
• pleasant
• flawless
• exquisite
• knockout
• hot
• fetching
• seemly
• taking
• lovesome
• bonny
• splendid
• desirable
• appealing
• well-favored
• sightly
• glamorous
• delicate
• alluring
• sublime
• engaging
• radiant
• cunning
• resplendent
• statuesque
• seductive
• personable
• dainty
• prepossessing
• luscious
• presentable
• striking
• glossy
• foxy
• snazzy
• toothsome
• showy
• nubile
• flamboyant
• Junoesque
• prettyish
• photogenic
• hunky
• slick
• flashy
• dishy
• chocolate-box
• arresting
• splashy
• pulchritudinous
• zingy
• dollish
• studly
• eye-catching
• telegenic
• showstopping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• homely
• ugly
• plain
• hideous
• unattractive
• grotesque
• unlovely
• terrible
• bad
• horrible
• dreadful
• unsightly
• ghastly
• disgusting
• frightful
• disagreeable
• vile
• loathsome
• unpleasing
• abominable
• shocking
• revolting
• offensive
• objectionable
• repulsive
• nasty
• unbeautiful
• repugnant
• abhorrent
• sickening
• unpleasant
• unhandsome
• foul
• repellent
• uncute
• unpretty
• nauseating
• uncomely
• ill-favored
• unaesthetic
• unappealing
• unprepossessing
• unappetizing
• unbecoming
• unimposing
• frumpy
• frumpish
• unshapely

lovely

2 of 2

noun

as in stunner

Related Words

• stunner
• beauty
• eyeful
• goddess
• hottie
• cutie
• ten
• doll
• fox
• looker
• dish
• showstopper
• dreamboat
• glamour-puss
• babe
• stud
• knockout
• hunk
• beefcake
• superstud

Dissimilar Words

• dog

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

Recent Examples of lovely

Adjective

As upsetting as that might sound, Hart’s deft handling of tough material is on full display here, as is a pair of truly lovely performances from Sunny Sandler (Sophie herself) and the unimpeachable Melanie Lynskey as her mother Elizabeth. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026

African Violet African violets make lovely houseplants and can bloom for many months of the year once established. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 12 Aug. 2026

Noun

In an early scene, poor Christian attends a dating event, having gamed the system, with his perfect numerical logic, so that all the potential lovelies are lined up at his table. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Apr. 2025

Serve these layered lovelies in old-fashioned glasses to make the treat extra special. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2023