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
Choosing trees, shrubs, and flowers based on pretty photos is a recipe for disaster. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 July 2026 For the 20th season, a callback to her first-ever tagline and also her greatest catchphrase is pretty genius. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 July 2026
Adverb
Yes, a bit of deception has long been standard in listing photos — a wide lens, a bit of color saturation to make a viewless window appear brighter — but the tools today are more sophisticated, cheaper, and pretty ubiquitous. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 21 July 2026 The romance of Prague is enthralling, from its pretty winding lanes to its skyline of rising spires. — Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 21 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
  • Ferran Torres, who hadn’t scored all tournament, getting the winner in the final from an assist by Nico Williams, who had fitness issues throughout, was a nice subplot.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • The sliding rear window is a nice touch and harks back to the latest Toyota 4Runner, a vehicle the R2 will be cross-shopped against.
    — Greg Migliore, Forbes.com, 20 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
  • This is an easy-drinking, refreshing wine with lovely fruit and some tannins to give it structure.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Just like lily of the valley, Canada mayflower has low-growing foliage and lovely white flowers.
    — Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026
Definition of lovely
Adjective
  • Counting businesses is easy, the count has been going up, and a rising number is a pleasant thing to publicize.
    — Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • While the town itself is quite pleasant, Lake Tahoe is the crown jewel.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 21 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

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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 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pretty for Spanish Speakers

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