pretty 1 of 3

1
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

pretty

2 of 3

adverb

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
From Saturday, March 1, to Saturday, April 12, 2025 pretty Venus goes retrograde. Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 28 Feb. 2025 Situated in the scenic village of Alfriston, the hotel is surrounded by a bustling community famed for throwing fetes and fayres on the ‘Tye’ (the village green), the sweeping South Downs National Park and chocolate-box-pretty pubs. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Adverb
Snag it in one of 32 different colors, including cozy neutrals and pretty pastels. Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025 Get it in ceramic pink while the pretty shade is on sale for the first time. Shalwah Evans, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
Three years ago, a Chinese startup called Outask had a vision for a more versatile lantern, one with an upper body shell that splits out into a tripod with magnetic mounting – pretty cool, but ultimately not cool enough for the folks who built it. New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2025 Beau DeMayo has been sharing his side of his experience and his story on social media pretty regularly. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pretty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretty
Adjective
  • This Amazon tiny home also has major curb appeal with the beautiful full-glass doors and entry.
    Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Beloved by coffee snobs and design aficionados alike, the Alessi stovetop coffee maker blends high-quality brewing with a form that is beautiful enough to leave out all day long.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The sound system isn’t as nice, and the side-view mirrors now have to be manually folded.
    Patrick George, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The gardener was removing excess leaves to give the tree a cleaner look, an attention to detail required at a nice hotel — The Grove — that’s been housing NFL teams since Aaron Glenn, now the New York Jets head coach, was still playing for the New Orleans Saints in 2008.
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Field Study Woven Tartan Runner Rug Not all patterns are suitable for every home, but this inviting runner rug can truly work with every style.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The stretchy material allows for easy movement, which is suitable for workouts and lounging.
    Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • The relatively remote area where the plant is located is typically patrolled by smaller law enforcement departments, so other agencies have volunteered resources for support, a source told CNN.
    Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Key Takeaways The Old Farmer’s Almanac forecasts relatively calm and travel-friendly weather nationwide for Thanksgiving this year.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Music aside, Stone Groove Stillhouse is quite the looker.
    Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 29 July 2025
  • David Hockney is a good looker.
    Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Aspen Nature Loop – Another easy and lovely hike is Aspen Nature Loop, just across the parking lot from Kachina Trail.
    Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
  • But another lovely thing this week has been the life of the mind.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Brew a pot of dark-roasted coffee to make your kitchen smell pleasant.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Instead of colorful foliage and leaf-peeping, an autumnal escape here means uncrowded beaches, pleasant temperatures in the mid-80s, and a wealth of cultural programming and events, many of which are free.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Multiple artists, including Marina Abramović, are credited as fine-arts collaborators for Masquerade, all of whom allowed the production to feature their thematically appropriate work.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Additional event information will be shared when appropriate.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pretty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretty. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

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