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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

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
Pay Mind to Winning Flavor Combinations Making your charcuterie board look pretty is half the fun—but don’t just place down your charcuterie ingredients at random. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2026 The prettiest garage with the most expensive design — proposed by Holiday Park Parking Partners — won the top ranking. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
Adverb
Saturday may feel pretty chilly outside, especially considering every day of this month has seen highs ranging from 64 to 80 degrees at DFW. Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026 To anyone watching Brown closely over the last few years, the pretty left-hand finish, which helped the Celtics close out a 125-117 win, was not shocking at all. Jay King, New York Times, 10 Jan. 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
  • His son is in the beginning, messy, beautiful process of becoming.
    Mirin Fader, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • There’s also a lot going on in the personal lives of the folks at 51, the biggest being Boden’s wedding, which — despite a glitch with Herrmann’s offer to hold the event at his church — winds up being a beautiful affair.
    Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The suede upper is also a nice departure from classic leather on other styles.
    Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Monogramming linens and towels is always a nice touch.
    Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The Mokum variety, a Nantes type, is suitable for container growing since the orange roots are slim and shorter than some of the larger varieties, reaching six-to-eight inches in length.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
  • During the land use committee hearing, city property agent Tyler Garland said the five parcels are not suitable for multi-family housing and that no city department expressed interest in using them.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Adverb
  • So, when inflation in groceries and consumer goods spiked in 2021—even for a relatively brief period—low- and middle-income Americans had precious little slack left to absorb it.
    Gene Ludwig, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
  • The agreement was relatively uncontroversial then, but when the time rolled around for the Danish parliament to officially ratify the treaty, this past June, Danes were feeling a lot more skeptical.
    Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • The Backside: Powder Day Bliss The looker’s left flank of the Cirque, also referred to as Thunder Saddle, is rife with more technical chutes and spicy freeride terrain, including Y-Spine, an infamous, stepped spine that keeps experts on their toes.
    Drew Zieff, Outside, 21 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • At night, reach for a latte loaded with adaptogens, passionflower and hops (an herbal sleep blend), and magnesium glycinate, ideal for longer, lovelier rest.
    Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Jeannine’s Jeannine’s is a longtime Santa Barbara favorite, and the At the Shore location features a lovely menu and a charming outdoor patio that feels more like a European cafe than a California brunch spot.
    Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Fortunately, there's usually plenty of pleasant autumn days after the first frost to tackle the remaining fall gardening tasks at a more leisurely rate.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Today the Moon in your sign is dancing with fair Venus creating pleasant feelings between you and everyone else.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The result is a chic, vacation-appropriate alternative that travels beautifully.
    Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
  • This is not meant to provide Nix with an excuse, but an appropriate frame of reference.
    Troy Renck The Denver Post, Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pretty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretty. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on pretty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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