pretty 1 of 3

pretty

2 of 3

adjective

1
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

2
3

pretty

3 of 3

noun

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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
In other words, the idea of the Qataris shutting off the monetary supply line to the French capital is pretty misguided. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 15 June 2025 The Western Michigan commit is pretty proud of that. Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
Adjective
Plus, the project probably wouldn’t be a pretty sight for the schools and 150 or so suburban homes nearby. Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2025 Divorces are rarely pretty, but Ryan Lochte’s is shaping up to be a doozy. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 10 June 2025
Noun
From Saturday, March 1, to Saturday, April 12, 2025 pretty Venus goes retrograde. Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 28 Feb. 2025 Aimée and Trintignant are movie-star pretty, but Lelouch’s style gives them both a weighty humanity, as do their performances. Carmel Dagan, Variety, 18 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for pretty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretty
Adverb
  • But that was a relatively modest 5,000 tickets a night.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 June 2025
  • Goldman Sachs estimates federal employment declined by a relatively modest 10,000 in May, adding to the 26,000 government workers that Capital Economics says already have been chopped since February.
    Paul Davidson, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • That this wrap-up happens on the stoop of an apartment building provides a nice callback to Past Lives.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
  • In other words, this is very much a ROG Ally handheld PC but with some nice Xbox touches that will the overall experience feel more like playing an Xbox.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Adjective
  • Housing advocates have cautioned that federal land is not universally suitable for affordable housing.
    Matthew Brown, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
  • Investments in securities entail risk and are not suitable for all investors.
    Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Adjective
  • This wine estate is located up a beautiful valley west of, and perpendicular to, the axis of the hills that form the Côte d’Or.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
  • Find antique treasures at Country Primitives and The Village Sampler; women’s clothing and accessories at Apricot Lane; and beautiful tabletop items at The Florida Room.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 June 2025
Noun
  • David Hockney is a good looker.
    Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
  • New battery technology aside, the keyboard is quite a looker.
    Zackery Cuevas, PCMAG, 7 Jan. 2025
Adverb
  • It’s been quite a year for Kathy Bates and Billy Bob Thornton, who both lead hit shows.
    Emily Longeretta, Variety, 15 June 2025
  • And perhaps most poignantly, both lost the thread -- Brian to the isolation of his mind, Sly to the labyrinth of his vices and fame -- but neither ever quite let go of the spool.
    Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • Comedy is also having a moment because of people are looking for a pleasant escape given the political nightmare currently gripping this nation.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 9 June 2025
  • This modern adaptation of a traditional country farmhouse features a welcoming front porch, which has ample room for two or three people to sit and relax on a pleasant day.
    James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025
Adjective
  • The authorities in California and Los Angeles were taking the appropriate actions.
    Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 10 June 2025
  • Measurable: Evaluate reasoning quality by tracking consistency across different scenarios, measuring response accuracy under varying complexity levels, and assessing appropriate uncertainty expression rather than just confidence metrics.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pretty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretty. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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