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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
No car traffic, horns or other urban sounds; just fresh air, lush green fairways, lovely buildings and a big crowd loving it all. Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 26 June 2025 Instead, in too many formless episodes, Season 4 favors quiet solo scenes (Syd perfects a dish amid dramatic lighting and a haunting St. Vincent track, in a set piece that looks lovely but has nothing new to say) and earnest two-handers. Judy Berman, Time, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for lovely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lovely
Adjective
  • Colleagues, mentors and friends are wonderful sources of feedback.
    Kim Salem-Jackson, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • These tender, buttery peas are wonderful in any number of dishes, but our new favorite just might be this black-eyed pea dip.
    Mary Claire Britton, Southern Living, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Until then, the MIT Museum will remain a beautiful shell with very little inside.
    Amir Husain, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • In Brooklyn, there was a full house at the beautiful opera-house-like Roulette space.
    Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Not to be outdone, an all-season stunner from Marc Jacobs is finally under $300, while a trendy anklet is now half-off and ready to bling up your next beach getaway.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 30 June 2025
  • Both classic and on par with this season’s trend, this stunner is perfect for layering with other necklaces or pairing it with your go-to tennis bracelet.
    Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • This would not have been possible without tireless work from our excellent lawyers @TheJusticeDept and our Solicitor General John Sauer.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
  • Along the way, there have been some other expressions as well, including single barrel, barrel-proof whiskeys, a series of excellent cask-strength American single malts, and rye whiskeys made with different grain varietals.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • These boots Adelheid is lacing are sort of…gorgeous?
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 23 June 2025
  • Their post features five gorgeous shots from Ocean Rain’s birth, both before and after her arrival.
    Clea Haran, Parents, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • Alternatively, get an eyeful of the Leake Street Arches—aka the London Graffiti tunnel—beneath Waterloo Station, and pop out on Lower Marsh, with its centuries-old street market and proper Lambeth vibe.
    Emma John, AFAR Media, 24 June 2025
  • Locals get an eyeful of contemporary art inside at the Seattle Art Museum as well as in the open air at the Olympic Sculpture Park.
    Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • Other varieties provide additional design elements such as interesting bark, colorful fruits, and fabulous fall foliage to enhance the garden all year long.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
  • This week on And Just Like That…, Carrie Bradshaw got some advice from a fabulous old friend.
    Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Amazon is stocked with tons of cute coin purses that capture the kawaii aesthetic of Japanese street style.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2025
  • Pair this long-line padded sports bra crop tank with a pair of leggings for a cute athletic look.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lovely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lovely. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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