pretty 1 of 3

adjective

ˈpri-tē How to pronounce pretty (audio)
Definition of prettynext
1
as in beautiful
very pleasing to look at a pretty young girl

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
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

pretty

2 of 3

adverb

ˈpri-tē How to pronounce pretty (audio)
as in relatively
to some degree or extent we've had some pretty cold weather lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pretty

3 of 3

noun

as in looker

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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
As if the universe was reading my mind, this pretty bottle came across my desk and blew my world. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 1 Oct. 2026 Maybe Elon Musk didn’t like the look of a front license plate on his pretty-pretty car, and Teslas aren’t made with the usual front-plate installation accommodations. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Adverb
Although Aftershock has a variety of choices, prices were pretty consistent. — Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Mimosa The fluffy blooms on mimosa trees (Albizia julibrissin) look pretty in pink, but don’t be fooled by their dainty appearance. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
Rounding the culinary experiences out is Pistachio, the pastel-pretty café for sweet treats and fresh coffee. — Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2025 From Saturday, March 1, to Saturday, April 12, 2025 pretty Venus goes retrograde. — Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pretty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pretty
  1. beautiful
  2. nice
  3. suitable
  4. relatively
  5. looker
  6. lovely
  7. pleasant
  8. appropriate
Adjective
  • With that, Dorinda gathers everyone (except for Chanel Ayan, who is too beautiful for the cold) out into the freezing night for the fireworks that end this celebration.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Indeed, this celestial crustacean has no star brighter than 4th magnitude and its only claims to fame are its membership in the zodiac and beautiful M44.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of beautiful
Adjective
  • The woman and her children lived in the nice part of the house and the foster girls — three to five at a time — ate dinner separately in the basement.
    — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
  • In an era where millions of recipes are made for content consumption as much as actual consumption, traveling back in time for someone’s beloved 1970 banana bread recipe sounds pretty nice.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • The program aims to keep used textiles out of general waste and mixed recycling bins, preserve clothing for reuse and improve the supply of material suitable for fiber-to-fiber recycling.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Secondhand platforms helped the team pinpoint suitable dupes for décor and furniture.
    — Mekita Rivas, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of suitable
Adverb
  • Some say the possibility of being slapped with the fees is a factor in buyers’ waning interest in condos, which have long been a relatively affordable option, at the same time that construction of new condos has continued to lag across the state.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Back in 1964, even a relatively enlightened critic like Robert Shelton, who played a pivotal role in introducing Bob Dylan to a national audience three years before, was a Beatles skeptic.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of relatively
Noun
  • Admired for his seriousness and for his eagerness to learn, as well as for his movie-star face and sturdy body, de Kooning was a looker in a city full of lookers.
    — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The analysis examined how many lookers pursued both living options across 50 large metropolitan areas, as well as a national benchmark.
    — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Definition of looker
Adjective
  • The Brasserie beside it, a continuation of the same vibe, focuses on French dishes with some good vegetarian options, and hosts a breakfast buffet with lovely local products.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The lovely south-facing casement windows in the living room are original; at the other end of the apartment is enough room for a second bedroom or office, plus a closet).
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of lovely
Adjective
  • Brisbane 2032 vice president Tim Mander and chief marketing officer Brent Hill told the weekend news conference the accidental release was a pleasant surprise.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • And the owners’ taste, in this case, is pleasant and broadly appealing, complimenting the home’s high ceilings and historic features.
    — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of pleasant
Adjective
  • But appropriate counseling depends on the precise diagnosis, gestational age, associated abnormalities, prognosis and maternal circumstances.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Schools must balance their responsibility to decide what material is appropriate for younger students with students’ First Amendment rights to receive information and ideas.
    — Susan Farrell, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of appropriate

Phrases Containing pretty

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prettiness
pretty
pretty boy
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Cite this Entry

“Pretty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pretty. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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