as in nicely
in a pleasing way
the dining room at the inn has a pleasingly old-fashioned look to it
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Recent Examples of pleasingly
As the United States has escalated its attacks on Iran, there’s something pleasingly transgressive about bringing Iranian elements into such overtly Western music—so much so that the songs without Yaghmai’s playing seem a little subdued in comparison.
—
Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026
That Directors’ Fortnight entry slightly overloaded on farcical complications but breezed along on the script’s daffy humor, its underlying sweetness and the director’s pleasingly light touch.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
The resort was created by Turkish entrepreneur Esin Güral Argat, who believes in biophilic design – using nature in the decor to enhance a sense of wellbeing – which means lots of pleasingly curved edges and playful nods to the ocean.
—Ann Lee, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
But there’s also something pleasingly and realistically melancholy about The Devil Wears Prada 2.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Apr. 2026
Gast Studio’s Stem Vase, on show at group exhibition Deoron, features glossy oversized thorn shapes that give the object both a hostile presence and a pleasingly jagged profile, like a rose stem on steroids.
—Francesca Perry, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Brashly violent, clattery and pleasingly untied to any direct predecessor, the result is more generic than its braggy auteur claims might promise, but there’s a lot here for gorehounds to feast on.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Quentin Tarantino’s outrageous revisionist Western is wildly over-the-top, combining the director’s penchant for gratuitous violence and sparkling dialogue with a story that’s pleasingly labyrinthine but nothing if not schlocky.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
The algorithm, pleasingly, is languishing in last place.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026
That Directors’ Fortnight entry slightly overloaded on farcical complications but breezed along on the script’s daffy humor, its underlying sweetness and the director’s pleasingly light touch.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
The resort was created by Turkish entrepreneur Esin Güral Argat, who believes in biophilic design – using nature in the decor to enhance a sense of wellbeing – which means lots of pleasingly curved edges and playful nods to the ocean.
—Ann Lee, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
But there’s also something pleasingly and realistically melancholy about The Devil Wears Prada 2.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Apr. 2026
Gast Studio’s Stem Vase, on show at group exhibition Deoron, features glossy oversized thorn shapes that give the object both a hostile presence and a pleasingly jagged profile, like a rose stem on steroids.
—Francesca Perry, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Brashly violent, clattery and pleasingly untied to any direct predecessor, the result is more generic than its braggy auteur claims might promise, but there’s a lot here for gorehounds to feast on.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Quentin Tarantino’s outrageous revisionist Western is wildly over-the-top, combining the director’s penchant for gratuitous violence and sparkling dialogue with a story that’s pleasingly labyrinthine but nothing if not schlocky.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
The algorithm, pleasingly, is languishing in last place.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasingly
Adverb
-
The space is simple but nicely laid out with attractive finishes.—
Katie McDonough,
Curbed,
18 May 2026
-
Aberg has bounced back nicely after his collapse on Sunday at the Players Championship earlier this year.—
Jeff Hartman,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Adverb
-
The profile Avedon paints is that of a relentless seeker and high-flying achiever, and a deliciously unapologetic contrarian.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
-
However it was intended, what Farhadi has brilliantly cooked up ultimately feels wholly original and deliciously crafted on every level.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
Marettimo The most remote of the Egadi Islands, tiny Marettimo—accessible via ferry from Trapani—remains delightfully rustic thanks to its limited accessibility, near absence of cars, and lack of large hotels.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
-
That Week 6 game against the Seahawks will be delightfully ugly.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
To that end, here’s a selection of the best (and most enjoyably bad) literary film and TV coming to streaming services this month.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Chatting with the peddler Rutherford Selig (Bradley Stryker, enjoyably channeling Deadwood), Bynum casually unzips the surface of reality and dips into the waters below.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is a killer, benchmarking great on games and productivity apps.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
15 May 2026
-
But manage again when the Yankees great known as Donnie Baseball was about to turn 65?—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
That doesn’t bode well for summer road trip plans.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
15 May 2026
-
Several other concerns were raised during the roughly three-hour hearing, including questions about how to best protect visitors and participants from federal immigration raids.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Adverb
-
Its leaves are finely cut, giving it a deceptively delicate appearance, but this is a tough plant that is not fazed by heat and climbs rapidly to cover a support.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 May 2026
-
Recipe information Mix 1 shallot, finely chopped, juice of 1 lime, and a pinch of kosher salt in a bowl and let sit.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 May 2026
Adverb
-
Antwaun Sargent commandeered the Gagosian booth, which has a pleasantly group show-y feel, with a nice moment featuring a Theaster Gates sculpture flanked by a Stanley Whitney painting and a Tyler Mitchell photograph.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
-
Despite being in one of the city’s more tony neighborhoods, The Modernist feels pleasantly relaxed whilst retaining a low-key buzz; enough happening, but by no means a party place.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pleasingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasingly. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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