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lovely

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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
The distillery’s latest release, which falls into the latter style, is an excellent 26-year-old whiskey that was made using a special kind of barley to give it a lovely chocolate character. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 Sep. 2025 The island’s one resort is the lovely oceanfront Scenic Matavai Resort Niue. Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lovely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lovely
Adjective
  • For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Stargazing is a wonderful pursuit that appeals to both the casual and dedicated observer, but views outside of cities are often much clearer and brighter thanks to different levels of light pollution.
    Harry Bennett, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Kids love the beaches and castles, while grandparents enjoy the relaxed pace and beautiful landscapes.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Like the blind father, the country is desperately trying to overcome its past and disadvantages, in pursuit of a more beautiful future — but that pursuit almost necessarily entails a brittle form of pride, which leads to various injustices along the way.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Hillside Oak, a bright four-bedroom, four-bathroom house, and the Eliot Noyes, a four-bedroom midcentury stunner with a pool, can both be booked through Marriott Bonvoy.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The latest Boot Bowl, played Friday, was a stunner.
    Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Harry Dean Stanton is excellent.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Moisture recovery ranged from good to excellent, with morning relative humidity levels between 55% and 88%.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Room for two, a supple ride, a gorgeous view over a curved hood, perfect flow of air up and over the windshield and cockpit with virtually no backsplash to disrupt pleasant conversation, and the ability at any time to experience a rush of power and speed when the moment calls.
    Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • As sociologist Mustapha Hashim Kurfi writes, in Hausa communities of northern Nigeria, calligraphy is deeply valued both as part of Islamic scholarship and as gorgeous embellishment for everything from building walls to horse blankets.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 14 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
  • Trailing varieties make a fabulous addition to fall containers, providing cool contrast to more fiery fall blooms.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Indeed, the spot had more than a few fabulous amenities, particularly the plumbing.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The buzzy long-sleeve shirt has a cute ribbed design, and it’s made of soft, stretchy fabric that doesn’t feel overly restrictive.
    Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
  • This cute camisole is perfect for lounging around or pairing with your favorite sweatpants or leggings.
    Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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