beautiful

adjective

ˈbyü-ti-fəl How to pronounce beautiful (audio)
Definition of beautifulnext
1
as in lovely
very pleasing to look at the banquet hall was decorated with beautiful flower arrangements for the reception

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wonderful
of the very best kind you've done a beautiful job of illustrating that children's story

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Such a wild, beautiful, hilarious, and exhausting ride. —Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026 Furnish an outdoor deck with modern furniture that has clean lines and neutral colors that don't detract from a backyard with a beautiful view. —Cori Sears, The Spruce, 29 Apr. 2026 That’s what’s so beautiful about this character. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026 At the end of the day, that's a beautiful thing. —Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beautiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beautiful
  1. lovely
  2. wonderful
  3. gorgeous
  4. excellent
  5. cute
  6. awesome
  7. handsome
  8. fabulous
Adjective
  • Ahead, my step-by-step guide to recreate a lovely lunch that will help your bond grow even deeper.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Later on, the sights of Camden Market and Gasholder Park promise a lovely balance between the buzz and tranquillity of London.
    — Will Barker, TheWeek, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of lovely
Adjective
  • There is great teaching going on, the principal is wonderful.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Claire has been an advocate for courageous stories, an expert at complicated logistics and a wonderful partner to teams across the entire news division.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • Use trailing varieties as spillers or to fill hanging baskets, and mounding varieties as gorgeous fillers.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
  • Want to capture a gorgeous meteor photo for yourself?
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 May 2026
Definition of gorgeous
Adjective
  • Soft white sand, clear waters and excellent surf draw beachgoers to this vast beach.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
  • This makes buffalo grass an excellent choice for naturally controlling soil erosion.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • The clothes were cute, though, if not a little costumey.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 May 2026
  • This adorable cloud pillow shows Harry’s iconic lightning bolt scar and is a seriously cute addition to any fan’s collection of memorabilia.
    — Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 1 May 2026
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • First, that is awesome, what a great community.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
  • It later was immortalized in the awesome painting by the great Norman Rockwell in the 1950s that became a gift to his friend Joyce Hall and remains part of the Hallmark Art Collection.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of awesome
Adjective
  • After a bit of back-and-forth, one of the crew members grabbed a plastic bag and handed it to a tall, radiantly handsome Canadian actor named Marc.
    — Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
  • But having said that, there is also a tenable argument against the team handing him a handsome pay raise.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of handsome
Adjective
  • Marginal Way is a paved cliff walk offering fabulous views of the ocean, and there are several benches along the way if the kids’ legs get tired.
    — Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The rooms are gorgeous, with options ranging from modern, elegant Nest rooms to fabulous Canopy suites with charismatic décor.
    — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of fabulous

Browse Nearby Words

beautifies
beautiful
beautifully
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Cite this Entry

“Beautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beautiful. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of beautiful for Spanish Speakers

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