PRETTY Synonyms: 444 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

pretty 1 of 3

adjective

ˈpri-tē

Definition of pretty

as in beautiful

very pleasing to look at a pretty young girl

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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

But Matt is also — and this is something the film can never quite square — a bit too easily swayed by a pretty face and a night out at the club. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2026 There was nothing pretty about it, but the Chiefs’ 22-6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday means Kansas City is 5-0 for the sixth time in franchise history. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026

Adverb

The pretty decorative pouch taps into pop culture’s Jane Austen fixation. — Irene Kim, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026 That felt pretty sweet for Arthur Tuverson, who gave a little smack talk to the San Clemente student section after the game, taunting them about the defense’s shutout. — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 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

Beyond cooking, Relota Luczo takes a shot of Furtuna Skin’s LXR06 Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil on an empty stomach each morning to maintain her beautiful skin.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026
Give the cake a final shake of fresh nutmeg for a beautiful presentation.

— Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of beautiful

Adjective

Last week, Niti Aayog, an Indian government think tank, shared a framework for local governments to evaluate data center projects for sustainability and to provide suitable locations, based on grid readiness and water supply availability.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Though the park’s activities are suitable for a wide variety of thrill seekers, participants must weigh between 45 and 250 pounds to safely use the park’s gear and be shorter than 6-foot-6.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of suitable

Adverb

As the world’s largest communications satellite network, Starlink can typically support high-speed Internet and data streams for any user or vehicle equipped with a relatively compact Starlink terminal.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
To find out which explanation fits, Boschini and his colleagues used a laser to temporarily disrupt superconductivity in a copper-oxide crystal while the material remained relatively cold.

— Sven Badoux, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of relatively

Noun

Admired for his seriousness and for his eagerness to learn, as well as for his movie-star face and sturdy body, de Kooning was a looker in a city full of lookers.

— Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of looker

Adjective

Montserrat Collection Residence Set within a 1930s French-style building, this lovely home features contemporary Argentine art and mid-century design.

— Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
But Mi-ok is game to be interviewed, and her words spring to life in wistfully lovely flashbacks.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of lovely

Adjective

Jacaranda trees bloom in purple across the city’s streets and parks, making wandering between neighborhoods in search of milongas (tango dance halls) especially pleasant.

— Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
In a world of endless technical advancement, who could have predicted that the greatest luxury of all would be a pleasant conversation with a human?

— Anna van Praagh, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of pleasant

Adjective

And what is the appropriate adjudication and justice for that kind of behavior?

— Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
The team of Berg and Bissinger seems appropriate here since both gave us that classic of Texas football, Friday Night Lights, and now find a new uniquely moving connection to the sport and the young men who played it.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of appropriate

Browse Nearby Words

prettiness

pretty

pretty boy

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Style

“Pretty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretty. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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