Definition of prettynext
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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

pretty

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noun

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
Oversized cuffs add visual interest to the classic style, especially when they’re rolled up to show off a pretty bracelet like the one Sims wore. Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 These describe everything from seeing a man carrying an aquarium filled with books to the experience of selecting the prettiest nail clipper from the shop. Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026
Adverb
At this time last year, many people were pretty confident about Penn State and Clemson. Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Much of the lunar surface is pretty barren, but the South Pole, and Shackleton Crater in particular, offers some of the most coveted real estate there. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 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
Adjective
  • The beautiful, heirloom quality cookware is a quintessential gift or kitchen upgrade.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Nashville then moved two goals clear in the 56th minute when Cristian Espinoza sent a pass across toward the near post and Surridge converted nonchalantly with a beautiful heel flick.
    Dean Jones, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • New York has a nice blend of skill and compete in a system that should produce reliable NHL talent but still has a lot of work ahead in this next rebuild.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • As for the rest of the space, the open-concept kitchen’s peninsula and granite countertops are a nice touch, as is the fact that the bedroom is big enough for a king-size mattress and a home office.
    Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The system is suitable for engaging both armoured and unarmoured targets.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Limits on mental health diversion SB 1373 would have revised the public safety standard a court applies when determining whether a criminal defendant is suitable for mental health diversion.
    John Woolfolk, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Female enlistments, by contrast, have remained relatively steady at around 10,000 recruits a year.
    Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Rookie fourth-round wide receiver Elijah Sarratt has been relatively quiet in practices over the past couple of weeks.
    Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
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
Adjective
  • My lovely therapist even gave me a map of the feet at the end to help me decipher where best to apply pressure at home.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • This formula that not only acts as a deodorant, but imparts a lovely fragrance (and that's particularly appealing in the dead of summer).
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • With time for a quick lunch, Zouaghi enjoyed a pleasant farm-to-table meal at Five March before continuing to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, one of Glasgow’s premier cultural institutions.
    Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Join Swamp Fox Tours for a pleasant hour-long history and architecture lesson aboard the blue-and-white tram.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • People who have not exercised regularly and who have chronic medical conditions or physical limitations should consult with their healthcare provider about what level and type of exercise is appropriate for them.
    Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • And right now in this country, the rights of disabled people are under attack, and especially their wellbeing and their access to appropriate healthcare.
    Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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