pretty 1 of 3

adjective

ˈpri-tē How to pronounce pretty (audio)
Definition of prettynext
1
as in beautiful
very pleasing to look at a pretty young girl

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nice
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses she was not a pretty sight after she fell off her horse and into the mud

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in suitable
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation their misalliance is as pretty an example of an ill-conceived marriage as you're likely to find

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pretty

2 of 3

adverb

ˈpri-tē How to pronounce pretty (audio)
as in relatively
to some degree or extent we've had some pretty cold weather lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pretty

3 of 3

noun

as in looker

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective pretty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pretty are beautiful, comely, fair, handsome, and lovely. While all these words mean "exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure," pretty often applies to superficial or insubstantial attractiveness.

a painter of conventionally pretty scenes

When is beautiful a more appropriate choice than pretty?

The words beautiful and pretty can be used in similar contexts, but beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses.

beautiful mountain scenery

How do comely and handsome relate to one another, in the sense of pretty?

Comely is like handsome in suggesting what is coolly approved rather than emotionally responded to.

the comely grace of a dancer

Where would fair be a reasonable alternative to pretty?

In some situations, the words fair and pretty are roughly equivalent. However, fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness.

fair of face

When might handsome be a better fit than pretty?

While in some cases nearly identical to pretty, handsome suggests aesthetic pleasure due to proportion, symmetry, or elegance.

a handsome Georgian mansion

How are the words lovely and beautiful related as synonyms of pretty?

Lovely is close to beautiful but applies to a narrower range of emotional excitation in suggesting the graceful, delicate, or exquisite.

a lovely melody

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 pretty
Adjective
The funk and rock sounds fight against ever-encroaching mud and hiss; pretty melodies are offset by punishing bass or rendered disorienting by creative panning in the mix. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026 The prettiest man in football landed a nasty elbow to Ireland’s Dara O’ Shea and was justifiably handed a red card. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
Adverb
Mahomes generated a pretty big cheer in the stadium when he was shown on the Jumbotron. — The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026 All of this is, of course, incredibly hard to pull off — but the goal is pretty clear. — David Pierce, The Verge, 12 July 2026
Noun
Rounding the culinary experiences out is Pistachio, the pastel-pretty café for sweet treats and fresh coffee. — Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2025 From Saturday, March 1, to Saturday, April 12, 2025 pretty Venus goes retrograde. — Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pretty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretty
  1. beautiful
  2. nice
  3. suitable
  4. relatively
  5. looker
  6. lovely
  7. pleasant
  8. appropriate
Adjective
  • Here was a team that played a beautiful, dominant style of soccer that enthralled the world and stymied opponents on its way to the World Cup final.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • This landmark resort is something of a Bajan institution, with elegant interiors and an awesomely beautiful setting that ensures it is consistently ranked as one of the best hotels in the Caribbean.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
Definition of beautiful
Adjective
  • There’s a difference between a need-to-have and a nice-to-have, though, and both Murgio and Erman Ozguven agree there are good reasons to evacuate further than just a few miles inland.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • On nice days, customers can sit on the rooftop among the outdoor sculpture garden and their meals will be brought to their table.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • The demonstration showed that advanced AI could operate on compact hardware suitable for autonomous space missions.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026
  • Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide A paste made from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is suitable for removing everyday grime and stains.
    — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
Definition of suitable
Adverb
  • In what was a relatively uncharacteristic ending for this Spain team – perhaps seeing the finish line so close – the squad allowed Argentina a few last chances, two of which couldn’t have been closer in the final eight minutes or so of the match.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Scripps researchers looked at the possibility of using this geoengineering over a shorter term in a relatively regional application that shortens the timeline and reduces the bureaucratic complexity of implementing it.
    — Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
Definition of relatively
Noun
  • The analysis examined how many lookers pursued both living options across 50 large metropolitan areas, as well as a national benchmark.
    — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
  • One was a real looker but not keen to enter some charade with Jed, whose big smile put her off.
    — Thomas McGuane, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2026
Definition of looker
Adjective
  • The acoustics are much changed, but audiences probably will notice the improved seating and lovely lighting even more.
    — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2026
  • That’s a lovely, melancholy sentiment Star City uses to deliver a season-best episode full of character moments that feel properly FAM.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Definition of lovely
Adjective
  • Daunt’s pool area is entirely pleasant right now, but Leo and Home have big plans for it, including the addition of a yoga area and a massage tent.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
  • Visual enhancements, such as a dark outline of the currently active interface element (think the search field in the Mail app), are a pleasant surprise.
    — Edward Mendelson, PC Magazine, 13 July 2026
Definition of pleasant
Adjective
  • Different departments and agencies have various policies outlining what actions are appropriate if a car stop or other incident goes awry.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • As Odysseus wanders from place to place, discovering the foreign customs and attitudes of each one, the story explores the concept of home, asking what kind of civilization is appropriate for an authentic human being.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of appropriate

Phrases Containing pretty

Browse Nearby Words

prettiness
pretty
pretty boy
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Cite this Entry

“Pretty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretty. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pretty

Nglish: Translation of pretty for Spanish Speakers

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