pretty 1 of 3

pretty

2 of 3

adjective

1
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

2
3

pretty

3 of 3

noun

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For
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a pretty picture
a cute picture
a gorgeous picture
a beautiful picture
a lovely picture
a fabulous picture
a pretty place
a stunning place
a picturesque place
a scenic place
an aesthetic place
a gorgeous place
a pretty dress
a stylish dress
an adorable dress
a fabulous dress
a fashionable dress
a great dress
a pretty name
a lovely name
a neat name
a wonderful name
a pleasant name
a nice name

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
Adverb
If the Panthers add a veteran post safety like Julian Blackmon in the coming weeks, the safety room could look pretty good come mandatory minicamp. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025 That was pretty much the only blemish on Buehler’s day. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
If the way to Mom’s heart is through her sweet tooth, this box of 20 pastel-perfect macarons from the iconic Parisian bakery is a treat almost too pretty to eat. Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 25 Apr. 2025 Madrid Santa Barbara’s Spanish architectural details—cream stucco walls, red-tiled roofs, and pretty arches—are striking. Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
From Saturday, March 1, to Saturday, April 12, 2025 pretty Venus goes retrograde. Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 28 Feb. 2025 Aimée and Trintignant are movie-star pretty, but Lelouch’s style gives them both a weighty humanity, as do their performances. Carmel Dagan, Variety, 18 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for pretty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretty
Adverb
  • But for those used to the constant looming threat of a major earthquake, the relatively low probability of such a disastrous scenario may be a small comfort: the study says there's a 15% probability of such an earthquake in the next 50 years.
    Joel Shannon, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • The New Right: The issues, the major players, and its future In the end, Rubio’s stylistic contrast with Trump, his relatively straightforward and understated style, may be why the pair complement each other so well, according to University of Central Florida political professor James C. Clark.
    Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Ice is not nice The ice at American Airlines Center was a huge problem in Game 2, with players on both teams falling down left and right.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
  • It’s made of a tarp-like material that feels pretty durable and the lid zippers, which is nice to contain smells.
    Sara Coughlin, SELF, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Midsize electric grills suitable for indoor/outdoor use are generally between 26-34 inches wide and can fit at least 10 burgers at a time.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025
  • This intelligent filtering ensures that only the most suitable candidates proceed to interviews, significantly accelerating recruitment cycles and reducing biases. 4.
    Tarun Eldho Alias, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • While scented candles are ubiquitous in the world of home fragrance, the best reed diffusers bring just as beautiful of an ambiance to your space.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2025
  • What technologies can be employed to make beautiful, lightweight, yet resilient gold jewelry?
    Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • David Hockney is a good looker.
    Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
  • New battery technology aside, the keyboard is quite a looker.
    Zackery Cuevas, PCMAG, 7 Jan. 2025
Adverb
  • Now nobody’s quite sure if a Windows 12 will be announced later this year, giving users another option before the curtain comes down on Windows 10.
    Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • McKenzie’s work can feel quite cold and scientific in that way, but again, the work is less about elevating personal perspective and just letting the facts speak — or shout — for themselves.
    Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Most of the week should be pleasant in the Baltimore area, with temperatures hovering in the upper 70s and low 80s before a chance of showers into the weekend.
    Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025
  • On bord, the Norse flight attendants were pleasant and service was frequent.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Depending on your needs and health goals, one diet may be better than the other, or neither may be appropriate.
    Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, Health, 24 Apr. 2025
  • There is no one right way to teach literacy in a developmentally appropriate, balanced literacy framework.
    K. Dara Hill, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pretty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretty. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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