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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

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 beautiful Diablo Cody was outspoken and beautiful and smart and funny. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2025 Known for its beautiful beaches and hiking trails, Tahiti has also recently been recognized as a popular family vacation destination. Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2025 That was what was both beautiful about it and naïve about it. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025 Butte is located halfway between Glacier and Yellowstone national parks for convenient access to outdoor activities and beautiful places worth exploring. Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beautiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautiful
Adjective
  • The two of them together at the arcade is just lovely.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Plants produce lovely blue flowers (or white in some varieties) that attract pollinators and other beneficial insects.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Embracing different cultures: There is plenty of wonderful Mexican culture depicted throughout the film, from cooking traditional dishes to the vibrant atmosphere.
    Alex Vance, Parents, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Cherish these moments and know that your efforts to preserve their voices are a wonderful tribute to your relationships.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The lightweight top features light embroidery around the neckline that adds gorgeous texture, and ruffles around the sleeves are a subtle detail that elevates the shirt to the next level.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Gothenburg locals recognize this spot as a landmark in the city and a gorgeous structure designed by Swedish architect Victor von Gegerfelt in 1874.
    Brittany Leitner, StyleCaster, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The streamer is loaded with excellent shows of all genres, but it’s known for its large collection of sci-fi series like Severance, which had its season 2 finale on March 20, For All Mankind and Silo, among others.
    Keith Langston, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Dairy milk promotes growth and recovery Dairy milk is an excellent source of high-quality protein, containing all nine essential amino acids necessary for muscle repair and growth, said Heckler.
    Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • His rapping has a frail, slithering quality; his vocal tone morphs between cute squeakiness and ragged rottweiler growls.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025
  • This Mainstays set accomplishes both goals and is so cute for summer.
    Megan Schaltegger, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Julie Chan is struggling through a hard life, which is only made worse by the face that her twin sister, Chloe, has an awesome one.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2025
  • He's gotten way better at talking on the mic during his match with CM Punk, and their matches have been awesome.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Schwartz was a tall, handsome kid from New York, the son of a doctor.
    Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Ultimately, the stepmother is defeated, and Snow White falls in love with a handsome prince.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • This is a film that exists entirely to support a brilliant, go-for-broke performance from Glenn Close, who channels a fabulous manic energy as Cruella De Vil.
    Barry Levitt, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn of Project Runway Beauty and brains, poise and talent, fabulous and fabulouser - Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn represented something totally fresh when Project Runway premiered in 2004, fostering the next generation of sartorial royalty.
    EW Staff Published, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Beautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beautiful. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on beautiful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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