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

This one wasn't pretty, with a steady rain falling throughout as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias blew through the Northeast. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026 This fall, i’ts all about balancing the pretty with the punchy. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2026

Adverb

Even at his launch, Freddy Krueger is pretty corny, and a little too quick with a locker-room-level pun. — Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 16 Oct. 2026 How to Clean Your Fridge Exterior With Vinegar If your fridge is even remotely close to your oven or stovetop, chances are that its exterior can get pretty greasy from all of your cooking. — Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 16 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

The Panthers set up 48 yards from pay dirt and then, a handful of plays later, Young placed a beautiful pass into the hands of a wide-open Tommy Tremble for a touchdown — and also placed the nail in the game’s proverbial coffin.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026
About half of Faux’s dining room, on my visits, seemed to be occupied by the young and beautiful, perhaps strategizing, over moules bouillabaisse, when to move the party to the bar downstairs.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of beautiful

Adjective

The Playoff including home games for the highest seeded teams is a nice touch that many personalities seemed to agree was a positive.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
The Verdict Sporting a more polished look than its contemporaries, Panasonic’s Japanese microwave is a nice gateway to nudge your kitchen toward more upscale design.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of nice

Adjective

The aircraft will declare an emergency with air traffic control, then autonomously fly to the nearest suitable airport, communicate with air traffic control, and safely land, bringing the plane to a full stop and shutting down the engine.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Sydney Sweeney delivered a suitable transitional look for a warmer-than-usual autumn that New Yorkers are experiencing.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of suitable

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

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 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pretty

adjective

adverb

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