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

That certainly made for one of the night’s prettiest moments. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026 The new assortment plays with contrasts by emphasizing soft and hard, fitted and baggy, pretty and powerful. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026

Adverb

The whole thing costs $39, and the season is off to a pretty good start with two games that are indicative of what the overall Playdate experience is like. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026 The reaction of longtime fans to a packaging refresh tends to vary, but these new labels seem to be pretty inoffensive. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 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

Ben is a real talent and will craft a beautiful and compelling documentary.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Starting the fourth with beautiful field position, the Bruins needed three plays to score.

— Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of beautiful

Adjective

Also, a foul ball hit by almost any player would be a nice souvenir.

— Scott Simon, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
Sure enough, there were a few hares in the field and the grass was just long enough to give a bit of protection to the hares and set a nice backdrop for the photographs.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of nice

Adjective

The program aims to keep used textiles out of general waste and mixed recycling bins, preserve clothing for reuse and improve the supply of material suitable for fiber-to-fiber recycling.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
Secondhand platforms helped the team pinpoint suitable dupes for décor and furniture.

— Mekita Rivas, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of suitable

Adverb

On Dalporto’s watch, Guitar Center has leaned into relatively new, faster-growing areas like DJ equipment, keyboards, drums, and recording studio gear.

— Phil Wahba, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
The threat of tsunami has likely largely receded, says USGS seismologist Susan Hough, as the quake occurred on land and happened at a relatively shallow depth.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 9 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

Opposite the magnificent eighteenth-century Grand Théatre, the 150-room Regent Grand perfectly mirrors the aristocratic elegance of this lovely city, thanks to the exquisite interiors of designer Jacques Garcia.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
Amazon includes eight different color choices in this sale, from the lovely Chilled Lilac or Dewdrop Mint, all the way to the basic white or black options.

— Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of lovely

Adjective

The architecture is designed to let robots interpret their surroundings, predict how environments may change, and choose appropriate actions.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
Dermatologists can also help patients understand which treatments are appropriate to use during and after cancer therapy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of appropriate

Browse Nearby Words

prettiness

pretty

pretty boy

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“Pretty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretty. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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