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Definition of prettynext
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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

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pretty

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adverb

pretty

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noun

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

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

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
From here, the path bends along the Lincolnshire coast before flowing into East Anglia and then the South East, from Woolwich on the Thames Estuary along some of the prettiest beaches in Kent and through buzzy Brighton towards the south. Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026 But David Pastrnak responded with his second goal of the game on a pretty play off the rush. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
Adverb
Eleanor’s shown to be a character who’s pretty aware of public perception. Arushi Jacob, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026 Mauricio Dubón, a Gold Glover who can play pretty much anywhere, starts at shortstop until Ha-Seong Kim comes back. Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
From Saturday, March 1, to Saturday, April 12, 2025 pretty Venus goes retrograde. Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 28 Feb. 2025 Situated in the scenic village of Alfriston, the hotel is surrounded by a bustling community famed for throwing fetes and fayres on the ‘Tye’ (the village green), the sweeping South Downs National Park and chocolate-box-pretty pubs. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for pretty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretty
Adjective
  • One is beautiful and famous the world over; the other is even more beautiful yet content not to have to put up with all the fuss and attention.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2026
  • What happens when you are forced to choose between a beautiful, vulnerable tradition and your own self-actualization?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Google's $499 Pixel 10a feels a whole lot nicer to use.
    Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Phase One currently is centered on a music theater that (from the point of view of the city) is very much in the nice-to-have-but-fully-served-elsewhere category and on a hotel, which is more promising but still less beneficial when compared with housing.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Hundreds of people could work in the building, which is described as a site that’s suitable for industrial, logistics, warehouse, and distribution activities.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
  • But there are twice as many single women as men in the LDS faith, making finding a suitable husband to marry and have babies with yet another competition.
    Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 26 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • Forming a company in Florida is fast, inexpensive and requires relatively little disclosure.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Then, in a rare daylight attack, more than 550 drones were launched at targets throughout the country, including in the far western city of Lviv, which has experienced relatively few attacks since the 2022 invasion.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Harry Melling is a late-blooming looker.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The more renowned the art, the greater the number of clueless lookers, joyless collectors, donors in search of tax breaks, and steroidal museums.
    Jackson Arn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • Here, though, lovely poetic imagery is scrambled with old and alternate timelines, sending the reverie in unanticipated and often comic directions.
    Hannah Gold, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
  • The foyer has a step-up entry from the front door, which feels elegant, and the living room is spacious with lovely touches in every direction — notice the built-ins with the arches that bookend the fireplace.
    Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Shared fairness makes today’s agreements durable and pleasant.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Sellers may lose out this spring Spring is usually peak season for home sales as buyers return to the housing market, and the pleasant weather raises curb appeal for sellers.
    Alison Saldanha, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Everyone is urged to properly dispose of cigarette butts, matches, and any other flammable items in appropriate containers.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2026
  • That plan ultimately goes awry, with Margot surviving the attack, smartly staged in a way that doesn’t completely ratchet up the violent tension, keeping the audience in an appropriate level of comfort while not compromising the narrative.
    David John Chávez, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pretty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretty. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.

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