pretty 1 of 3

pretty

2 of 3

adjective

1
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

2
3

pretty

3 of 3

noun

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a pretty picture
a cute picture
a gorgeous picture
a beautiful picture
a lovely picture
a fabulous picture
a pretty place
a stunning place
a picturesque place
a scenic place
an aesthetic place
a gorgeous place
a pretty dress
a stylish dress
an adorable dress
a fabulous dress
a fashionable dress
a great dress
a pretty name
a lovely name
a neat name
a wonderful name
a pleasant name
a nice name

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
Adverb
Issuing $9 residential parking permits is a pretty one-sided compromise. U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025 The episode used him well in his range as a comedic actor (from a gay dad/kidnapper alongside Bowen Yang to a dumb cop), and for the most part, each sketch felt pretty solid. Rima Parikh, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Santa Barbara Dupe for: Madrid Santa Barbara’s Spanish architectural details—cream stucco walls, red-tiled roofs, and pretty arches—are striking. Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2025 The close-up view from here just wasn’t always pretty. Will Sammon, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
From Saturday, March 1, to Saturday, April 12, 2025 pretty Venus goes retrograde. Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 28 Feb. 2025 Aimée and Trintignant are movie-star pretty, but Lelouch’s style gives them both a weighty humanity, as do their performances. Carmel Dagan, Variety, 18 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for pretty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretty
Adverb
  • Sinners cost $90 million to make before marketing, a relatively hefty price tag for a genre movie (Creed‘s budget was $50 million).
    Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Actual economic data has remained relatively resilient despite the tariff storm.
    Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a place downtown called Soul Classics that’s really nice, like street-wear stuff.
    Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Not easy to do, but nice to come through tonight.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This lightweight and very liquid formula is suitable for all skin types.
    Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Quicklime, on the other hand, is not suitable for use in garden soils due to safety issues.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Order a drink, admire the master carpentry, and unwind with views of the beautiful garden.
    Christina Liao, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025
  • With a maximum of 60 guests, this exclusive resort offers private luxury bungalow suites designed in a West Indian motif, some appointed with outdoor copper tubs, indoor/outdoor showers, private decks, vaulted ceilings, and beautiful ocean views.
    Cynthia J Drake, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • David Hockney is a good looker.
    Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
  • New battery technology aside, the keyboard is quite a looker.
    Zackery Cuevas, PCMAG, 7 Jan. 2025
Adverb
  • So there’s a mutual agreement between the two, or mutual benefits, that are quite tolerable—or even pleasurable.
    Mark Holgate, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025
  • The bowls are quite deep and narrow and aren’t super easy for cats to reach, which could cause whisker fatigue.
    Molly Higgins, Wired News, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The music was a pleasant surprise and big draw for Bacon’s interest, too, but for an actor who has starred in many horror films and series throughout his career, there needed to be something really unique to entice Bacon to The Bondsman.
    Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Exploring ancient hot spots like Delphi, ancient Epidaurus, and Olympia on foot is much more pleasant in spring temperatures averaging from the 60s to the high 70s.
    Helen Iatrou, AFAR Media, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The LLMs also recommended mental health assessments to these patients approximately six to seven times more often than what the validating physicians deemed appropriate and more than twice as often as the control group.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • At the same time, have the appropriate confidence in you and your support circle to deal with whatever life throws your way.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pretty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretty. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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