Nice vs. Beautiful — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 25, 2023
"Nice" describes something pleasant or agreeable, while "Beautiful" refers to something that is aesthetically pleasing or delightful in appearance.
Difference Between Nice and Beautiful
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Nice" and "Beautiful" are both adjectives used to express approval or admiration, but they differ in nuance and application. The term "Nice" is versatile, often denoting something that is pleasant, satisfactory, or of a desirable quality. For instance, one might describe a person's gesture as nice or a meal as nicely prepared. On the other hand, "Beautiful" is more specific, typically used to depict something (or someone) that is aesthetically pleasing. A sunset, painting, or person can be described as beautiful based on its visual appeal.
While "Nice" might be used more broadly in contexts ranging from behavior to appearance, "Beautiful" is usually reserved for comments on visual or aesthetic qualities. It's also noteworthy that "Nice" can sometimes be seen as a more lukewarm compliment compared to "Beautiful," which often carries more emotional weight and intensity. In essence, while both words are positive, "Beautiful" often resonates more deeply on an aesthetic level, whereas "Nice" can be more generic.
Comparison Chart
Primary Connotation
Pleasant or agreeable
Aesthetically pleasing or delightful in appearance
Usage Scope
Broader, can describe behavior, taste, appearance, etc.
More specific, mainly describes visual or aesthetic qualities
Intensity
Generally seen as a milder compliment
Carries deeper emotional or aesthetic weight
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Part of Speech
Adjective
Adjective
Examples of Objects
Can be used for people, food, actions, etc.
Typically used for scenes, artworks, people based on physical appeal
Compare with Definitions
Nice
Affectedly modest; coy
"Ere ... / The nice Morn on th' Indian steep, / From her cabin'd loop-hole peep" (John Milton).
Beautiful
Pleasing the senses, especially the eyes.
The painting was Beautiful.
Nice
Satisfactory or acceptable.
The performance was Nice, though not outstanding.
Beautiful
Delighting the aesthetic senses.
The melody of the song was Beautiful.
Nice
Enjoyable or delightful.
We had a Nice time at the party.
Beautiful
Excellent or splendid.
The concert was a Beautiful experience.
Nice
Nice ( NEESS, French: [nis]; Nissard Occitan: Niça, classical norm, or Nissa, nonstandard, pronounced [ˈnisa]; Italian: Nizza [ˈnittsa]; Ancient Greek: Νίκαια; Latin: Nicaea) is the seventh most populous urban area in France and the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department. The metropolitan area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly 1 million on an area of 744 km2 (287 sq mi).
Beautiful
Love or affectionate; used as a term of endearment.
Don't cry, my Beautiful.
Nice
Giving pleasure or satisfaction; pleasant or attractive
We had a very nice time
Beautiful
Having qualities that delight or appeal to the senses and often the mind.
Nice
(especially of a difference) slight or subtle
There is a nice distinction between self-sacrifice and martyrdom
Beautiful
Excellent; wonderful
Hit a beautiful shot from the tee.
Nice
Fastidious; scrupulous.
Beautiful
Used to express approval or delight.
Nice
A resort city on the French Riviera, near the border with Italy; population 348,721 (2007).
Beautiful
Attractive and possessing beauty.
Anyone who has ever met her thought she was absolutely beautiful.
There's a beautiful lake by the town.
Nice
Pleasing and agreeable in nature
Had a nice time.
A nice person.
Beautiful
Good, admirable.
He was a beautiful person; he would drop everything to help you.
You've done a beautiful thing today.
Nice
Having a pleasant or attractive appearance
A nice dress.
A nice face.
Beautiful
(of the weather) Pleasant; clear.
It's beautiful outside, let's go for a walk.
Nice
Exhibiting courtesy and politeness
A nice gesture.
Beautiful
Well executed.
The skater performed a beautiful axel.
Nice
Of good character and reputation; respectable.
Beautiful
Someone who is beautiful. Can be used as a term of address.
The man was faithful to his wife, ignoring the many blonde beautifuls who surrounded him wherever he went.
Hey, beautiful!
Nice
Overdelicate or fastidious; fussy.
Beautiful
Having the qualities which constitute beauty; pleasing to the sight or the mind.
A circle is more beautiful than a square; a square is more beautiful than a parallelogram.
Nice
Showing or requiring great precision or sensitive discernment; subtle
A nice distinction.
A nice sense of style.
Beautiful
Delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration;
A beautiful child
Beautiful country
A beautiful painting
A beautiful theory
A beautiful party
Nice
Done with delicacy and skill
A nice bit of craft.
Beautiful
Aesthetically pleasing
Nice
Used as an intensive with and
Nice and warm.
Beautiful
(of weather) highly enjoyable;
What a beautiful day
Nice
Wanton; profligate
"For when mine hours / Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives / Of me for jests" (Shakespeare).
Beautiful
Possessing qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction.
She has a Beautiful spirit.
Nice
Pleasant, satisfactory.
Nice
Of a person: friendly, attractive.
Nice
Respectable; virtuous.
What is a nice person like you doing in a place like this?
Nice
Shows that the given adjective is desirable, or acts as a mild intensifier; pleasantly, quite.
The soup is nice and hot.
Nice
Showing refinement or delicacy, proper, seemly
A nice way of putting it
Nice
(obsolete) Silly, ignorant; foolish.
Nice
Particular in one's conduct; scrupulous, painstaking; choosy.
Nice
(dated) Having particular tastes; fussy, fastidious.
Nice
(obsolete) Particular as regards rules or qualities; strict.
Nice
Showing or requiring great precision or sensitive discernment; subtle.
Nice
(obsolete) Easily injured; delicate; dainty.
Nice
(obsolete) Doubtful, as to the outcome; risky.
Nice
(colloquial) Nicely.
Children, play nice.
He dresses real nice.
Nice
Used to signify a job well done.
Nice! I couldn't have done better.
Nice
Used to signify approval.
Is that your new car? Nice!
Nice
Niceness.
Nice
To run a process with a specified (usually lower) priority.
Nice
Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate.
But say that we ben wise and nothing nice.
Nice
Of trifling moment; unimportant; trivial.
The letter was not nice, but full of chargeOf dear import.
Nice
Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious in small matters.
Curious not knowing, not exact but nice.
And to tasteThink not I shall be nice.
Nice
Delicate; refined; dainty; pure.
Dear love, continue nice and chaste.
A nice and subtile happiness.
Nice
Apprehending slight differences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment.
Nice
Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application; exactly or fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as, a nice point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy.
The difference is too niceWhere ends the virtue, or begins the vice.
Nice
Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc.
Nice
Pleasant; kind; as, a nice person.
Nice
Well-mannered; well-behaved; as, nice children.
He's making a list, checking it twice.Gonna find out who's naughty or nice Santa Claus is coming to town.
Nice
A city in southeastern France on the Mediterranean; the leading resort on the French Riviera
Nice
Pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance;
What a nice fellow you are and we all thought you so nasty
Nice manners
A nice dress
A nice face
A nice day
Had a nice time at the party
The corn and tomatoes are nice today
Nice
Socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous;
From a decent family
A nice girl
Nice
Done with delicacy and skill;
A nice bit of craft
A job requiring nice measurements with a micrometer
A nice shot
Nice
Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted;
Too nice about his food to take to camp cooking
So squeamish he would only touch the toilet handle with his elbow
Nice
Noting distinctions with nicety;
A discriminating interior designer
A nice sense of color
A nice point in the argument
Nice
Exhibiting courtesy and politeness;
A nice gesture
Nice
Agreeable or pleasant in nature.
It was a Nice day outside.
Nice
Exhibiting courtesy or politeness.
It was Nice of her to help.
Nice
Precise or careful.
The cut was made with Nice precision.
Common Curiosities
Are "Nice" and "Beautiful" interchangeable?
Not always. While both are positive, "Beautiful" often refers to aesthetic appeal, whereas "Nice" can be more general.
Can "Beautiful" describe non-physical attributes?
Yes, it can describe intangible qualities, like a "Beautiful voice" or "Beautiful soul."
Is "Nice" always a compliment?
Usually, but it can sometimes be seen as a lukewarm or generic compliment.
Which word carries more emotional weight?
Typically, "Beautiful" has a deeper emotional resonance than "Nice."
Which word is older in the English language?
Both words have ancient roots, but "Nice" originally had a very different meaning in Old French and Latin.
Is "Nice" used differently in American and British English?
While its primary meanings are consistent, regional nuances might differ slightly.
Can "Beautiful" describe sounds?
Yes, sounds like music or a voice can be described as "Beautiful."
Is "Beautiful" subjective?
Beauty is often subjective, so what one finds "Beautiful" another might not.
Can both words describe people?
Yes, both can describe people in different contexts.
Is "Nice" only about appearance?
No, it can describe behavior, taste, and other attributes.
How is "Beautiful" used in literature?
"Beautiful" is often used to describe scenes, characters, or emotions that are aesthetically or emotionally moving.
Can objects be described as "Nice"?
Yes, objects, actions, and even weather can be described as "Nice."
Can "Beautiful" be used ironically?
Like many words, it can be used ironically to mean the opposite, depending on context.
Can "Nice" describe flavor?
Yes, it can. For instance, "The soup has a Nice flavor."
Why might someone choose "Nice" over "Beautiful"?
They might choose "Nice" for a more general or milder compliment, or when "Beautiful" doesn't fit the context.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
