PRETTY Synonyms: 444 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

pretty 1 of 3

adverb

ˈpri-tē

Definition of pretty next

as in relatively

to some degree or extent we've had some pretty cold weather lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pretty

2 of 3

adjective

ˈpri-tē

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

as in suitable

meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation their misalliance is as pretty an example of an ill-conceived marriage as you're likely to find

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in beautiful

very pleasing to look at a pretty young girl

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pretty

3 of 3

noun

as in looker

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Try This Instead

For

Try This

a pretty picture

a cute picture

a gorgeous picture

a beautiful picture

a lovely picture

a fabulous picture

a pretty place

a stunning place

a picturesque place

a scenic place

an aesthetic place

a gorgeous place

a pretty dress

a stylish dress

an adorable dress

a fabulous dress

a fashionable dress

a great dress

a pretty name

a lovely name

a neat name

a wonderful name

a pleasant name

a nice name

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

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

Adverb

The tariff is a blunt instrument that might be ill-advised because Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has a pretty strong mandate to play hardball. —

Jim Cramer, CNBC, 3 Feb. 2025 The briny air, craggy cliffs and crashing waves are good for whatever ails you – which in 2025 is pretty much everything everywhere all at once. —

John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Soy Cowboy: Too pretty to pass up Soy Cowboy, 888 Nolan Ryan Expressway, Arlington, is the flashy pan-Asian restaurant from the owners of B&B Butchers, with a superstar menu of sushi, soups, dumplings, stir-fry dishes and steaks. —

Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2025 Image The attachment to pretty plates lies at the intersection of two things. —

Rukmini Callimachi, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

Noun

This drive along the northern New England coast takes just over three hours, but is filled with charm: think endless beaches, fishing harbors, artist colonies, and postcard-pretty villages clinging to the edge of the water. —

Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2020 Most people seem to agree — the bartenders have a habit of making the drinks in a pretty row at the bar, in the style of the Irish coffee pros at Buena Vista Cafe. —

Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, 29 Aug. 2019 See all Example Sentences for pretty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretty

Adverb

Youngsters Yutaro Tsukada, 22, and Gustavo Caraballo, 16, both started the match and looked relatively comfortable in coach Oscar Pareja’s system.

— Kyle Foley, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025
While Weidner’s firm has taken in a relatively steady flow of money over the past six years from this kind of work — an average of roughly $450,000 in fees and expenses per year — the number of cases filed per year plummeted in 2020 and hasn’t fully recovered.

— Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025