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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

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pretty

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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

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

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
Starring the prettiest cleanup crew in the world, my sweet @isimostar and my angel @madelyncline Directed by margaret & me! Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026 Keeping it rolling and chanting and showing off — a culture in full bloom, too pretty, too rooted to fade … just yet. Nichole Marks, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Adverb
The Canes started the second on the PP thanks to a goalie interference call on Mark Kastelic (and a pretty egregious dive by Bussi). Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026 The formula of what American music was at that time was pretty simple. Devon Ivie, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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 See All Example Sentences for pretty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretty
Adjective
  • Isolated by its beautiful, rugged mountains, West Virginia sits entirely within Appalachia and has long been listed at the bottom of a laundry list of failings, including poor health and a lack of education.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The patio at Bricks and Horses is as beautiful as ever, and now the menu is better than ever.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Some other teachers that maybe hadn’t been so polite to me or nice to me, all of a sudden became a little nicer.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Thursday night is going to be a nice little appetizer, so to speak.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Visitors can also rent colorful, open-sided Mokes from Anegada Reef Hotel or local outfitters for a classic Caribbean way to explore the island; the adventure set may prefer more standard off-road-suitable Jeeps.
    Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
  • While this lotion is suitable for most skin types, it’s not recommended for children.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • While an annoyance at times for the crew, it's been a relatively minor issue given the technical challenges of safely flying to the moon and back.
    William Harwood, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
  • That puts them at the forefront of an asset class that is looking uncertain, although their overall exposure is still relatively small compared to their vast holdings.
    Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Harry Melling is a late-blooming looker.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The more renowned the art, the greater the number of clueless lookers, joyless collectors, donors in search of tax breaks, and steroidal museums.
    Jackson Arn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • One one side, a lovely mother and daughter in the middle of planning her wedding.
    Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
  • This is a lovely array of dresses, and it is pulled from a collection that DAM’s fans and supporters can easily admire.
    Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The band's courtesy visit was a pleasant break for Japan's first female leader, known for her long working hours and now struggling with strained diplomatic ties with China, the fallouts from the war in the Middle East as well as rising prices at home.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The band’s courtesy visit was a pleasant break for Japan’s first female leader, known for her long working hours and now struggling with strained diplomatic ties with China, the fallouts from the war in the Middle East as well as rising prices at home.
    Mari Yamaguchi, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Given that three of the Red Sox’ previous five balls in play had an exit velocity of 107 mph or greater and a left-handed batter was coming to the plate, it could also be argued pretty convincingly that inserting lefty Wandy Peralta was appropriate.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Your local garden center should have an appropriate mix available.
    Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pretty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretty. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

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