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
This pretty T-shirt features a V-neckline, sheer short sleeves, and a curved hem that’s easy to tuck into the waistband of your favorite jeans or pants. — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 Its outdoor area is just as pretty, with colorful plants (a Judas tree, a Mount Etna Broom, roses, and jasmine) filling the garden. — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Dry days have been pretty rare recently in Western Pennsylvania. — Ron Smiley, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 In an eight-inch pan after 35 minutes, the cake was getting pretty brown although still pretty jiggly in the center. — Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Aug. 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
  • The trumpets required skilled metal workers capable of making both a beautiful and working musical instrument.
    — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • In a city filled with incredible architecture and spellbinding heritage buildings, the Ortaköy Mosque is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to see.
    — CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of beautiful
Adjective
  • An Oscar winning, Brit Award record setting couple has a nice ring to it.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The hotel has one restaurant (a Japanese Mediterranean dining room from local celebrity chef Olivier da Costa) and a nice gym.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • In the long run, leaders are confident the 19 new boats will prove suitable replacements for the Ohios.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • One of the conditions included the owner's agreement to help existing Ansley Park residents find suitable housing.
    — Emily McLeod, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of suitable
Adverb
  • Schrell examined whether annual production campaigns would be more effective, but concluded that the approach would not make economic or operational sense because of costs, limited hot-cell capacity and the isotope’s relatively short half-life.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike many other regions, Australian largetooth sawfish appear to have maintained relatively stable genetic diversity since at least the 1960s.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of relatively
Noun
  • 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
  • One was a real looker but not keen to enter some charade with Jed, whose big smile put her off.
    — Thomas McGuane, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2026
Definition of looker
Adjective
  • The backstory First inaugurated in 1900 for the Exposition Universelle at the turn of the century, this property is charismatically old at a lovely 125.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
  • There are orange and ube lattes, that sea-salt cheese latte that only comes iced and soft serve with coffee – a drippy, lovely affogato.
    — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of lovely
Adjective
  • Do not leave the important detail implied because the tone feels pleasant today.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Adding to the pleasure of a visit here is the location, the walk to Home Park from the station being one of the more pleasant, through the city’s Central Park.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of pleasant
Adjective
  • Citing a report from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the government said that at least 70 people reported visual loss in the days after the eclipse due to having looked directly up at the sun without appropriate protection.
    — Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Kids Against Maturity is an age-appropriate take on Cards Against Humanity for kids ten and up.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 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 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pretty for Spanish Speakers

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