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a beautiful day
a perfect day
a gorgeous day
a nice day
a pretty day
beautiful music
elegant music
pleasant music
pretty music
lovely music
wonderful music
beautiful eyes
amazing eyes
pretty eyes
beautiful scenery
picturesque scenery
pristine scenery
spectacular scenery
breathtaking scenery
exquisite scenery
a beautiful baby
an adorable baby
a cute baby
a precious baby
a lovely baby
a gorgeous baby

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective beautiful differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of beautiful are comely, fair, handsome, lovely, and pretty. While all these words mean "exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure," beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses.

beautiful mountain scenery

How are the words comely and handsome related as synonyms of beautiful?

Comely is like handsome in suggesting what is coolly approved rather than emotionally responded to.

the comely grace of a dancer

When can fair be used instead of beautiful?

The words fair and beautiful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness.

fair of face

When could handsome be used to replace beautiful?

While in some cases nearly identical to beautiful, handsome suggests aesthetic pleasure due to proportion, symmetry, or elegance.

a handsome Georgian mansion

How do lovely and beautiful relate to one another?

Lovely is close to beautiful but applies to a narrower range of emotional excitation in suggesting the graceful, delicate, or exquisite.

a lovely melody

In what contexts can pretty take the place of beautiful?

The words pretty and beautiful can be used in similar contexts, but pretty often applies to superficial or insubstantial attractiveness.

a painter of conventionally pretty scenes

Examples 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 beautiful No extra glaze is included, though the drippings from this ham would make a beautiful sauce. Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024 Because of the beautiful picture of being brave in that story. The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024 The studio provides beautiful ceramics inspired by restaurant and food cultures, specifically Chinatowns. Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 11 Dec. 2024 That book centers on Quasimodo, the cathedral's bell-ringer, and Esmeralda, a kind and beautiful street dancer. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for beautiful 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautiful
Adjective
  • And the Tahini shortbread just what a lovely kind of savory cookie, just really got some nuance in terms of just that savory edge to the flavor.
    Bon Appétit, Bon Appétit, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Among the loveliest species to link the U.S. with Mexico are monarch butterflies, whose migratory populations are dwindling.
    Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The residents of this wonderful city hold a special place in my heart.
    Melissa Noel, Essence, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Watch The Small One on Disney+ Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas This short holiday special catches up with the Ice Age characters at the most wonderful time of the year … well, in theory.
    Sydni Ellis, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The new colors are great (ultramarine is gorgeous) and access to Apple Intelligence is a vote-winner on its own.
    David Phelan, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
  • And Maria McManus has been strong: It’s priced beautifully, the product is absolutely gorgeous, and the messaging is incredible.
    Mark Holgate, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The excellent Shailene Woodley pulls off the toughest assignment as the prophetic (or mentally ill) daughter, but Zachary Qunto, Rebecca Henderson and Christopher Sears all forge empathetic beasts.
    Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024
  • This example from Swiss Watch Expo is in excellent, near new condition with its full bracelet and original box.
    Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • In late November, Munn posted a cute tribute on Instagram to celebrate her son's third birthday.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
  • For a cute accent table or seating option, the KYRRE electric blue stool is a must have.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Shuttles will transport you to other nearby attractions like Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve which, in addition to being a popular golf course, has an awesome cave and nature walk that little and big kids will love.
    Esther Carlstone, Parents, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Human individual rights and protecting them are awesome, too.
    Makena Kelly, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Walk to the waterfront where the Rhone River flows flat and fast and cross the handsome pedestrian/bicycle only Passerelle Marc-Seguin wooden suspension bridge.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
  • In this film, her character falls for a handsome knight who magically gets transported to the present day.
    Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • His best-selling 2019 memoir Me and Furnish’s 1995 documentary about him, Tantrums & Tiaras, reveal a willingness to let people see the less fabulous side of Elton John.
    Belinda Luscombe, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Not only does this new brand of luxury laundry detergent clean dirty clothes, but the sleek modern bottle looks fabulous on any laundry room shelf.
    Amanda Lauren, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near beautiful

Cite this Entry

“Beautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beautiful. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on beautiful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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