Pretty vs. Beautiful — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 25, 2023
Pretty refers to a pleasing appearance often on a delicate scale, while beautiful conveys a deeper, often more encompassing aesthetic appreciation.
Difference Between Pretty and Beautiful
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Pretty typically describes something that is pleasing to the eyes in a delicate or charming manner. Beautiful, meanwhile, holds a more profound meaning, suggesting an aesthetic that can deeply move or inspire.
Pretty is often used in casual, everyday contexts and might be seen as a lighter compliment. Beautiful often carries more weight, suggesting a deeper emotional or aesthetic response.
Pretty is frequently applied to temporary or fleeting visuals, like outfits or decorations. Beautiful might be used to describe more permanent or impactful things like landscapes, art, or personal characteristics.
While both can describe appearance, beautiful often extends beyond the visual. A sentiment, gesture, or piece of music can be beautiful, whereas pretty is primarily visual.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Pleasing to the eye, especially in a delicate manner.
Deeply pleasing aesthetically, invoking admiration or awe.
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Intensity
Lighter, more casual.
Deeper, more profound.
Usual Context
Temporary visuals, daily compliments.
Permanent or impactful visuals, profound appreciation.
Application
Primarily visual.
Beyond visual; can be emotional, auditory, etc.
Synonyms
Cute, charming.
Gorgeous, magnificent.
Compare with Definitions
Pretty
Pleasing by delicacy or grace.
She wore a pretty dress to the party.
Beautiful
Possessing qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to the senses or mind.
The mountain view was truly beautiful.
Pretty
Agreeable to the senses.
The garden looks pretty in the morning light.
Beautiful
Of a very high standard.
She has a beautiful voice.
Pretty
To a moderately high degree.
It's pretty cold outside.
Beautiful
Pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.
The artwork in the gallery was beautiful.
Pretty
(of a person, especially a woman or child) attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful
A pretty little girl with an engaging grin
Beautiful
Excellent, wonderful.
He played a beautiful piece on the piano.
Pretty
Used ironically to express annoyance or displeasure
He led me a pretty dance
Beautiful
Affecting the senses deeply.
The story had a beautiful ending.
Pretty
To a moderately high degree; fairly
He looked pretty fit for his age
It was a pretty bad injury
Beautiful
Having qualities that delight or appeal to the senses and often the mind.
Pretty
An attractive thing, especially a trinket
He buys her lots of pretties—bangles and rings
Beautiful
Excellent; wonderful
Hit a beautiful shot from the tee.
Pretty
Make pretty or attractive
She'll be all prettied up and ready to go in an hour
Beautiful
Used to express approval or delight.
Pretty
Pleasing or attractive in a graceful or delicate way.
Beautiful
Attractive and possessing beauty.
Anyone who has ever met her thought she was absolutely beautiful.
There's a beautiful lake by the town.
Pretty
Clever; adroit
A pretty maneuver.
Beautiful
Good, admirable.
He was a beautiful person; he would drop everything to help you.
You've done a beautiful thing today.
Pretty
Very bad; terrible
In a pretty predicament.
A situation that has reached a pretty pass.
Beautiful
(of the weather) Pleasant; clear.
It's beautiful outside, let's go for a walk.
Pretty
Ostensibly or superficially attractive but lacking substance or conviction
Full of pretty phrases.
Beautiful
Well executed.
The skater performed a beautiful axel.
Pretty
(Informal) Considerable in size or extent
A pretty fortune.
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!
Pretty
To a fair degree; moderately
A pretty good student.
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.
Pretty
In a pretty manner; prettily or pleasingly.
Beautiful
Delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration;
A beautiful child
Beautiful country
A beautiful painting
A beautiful theory
A beautiful party
Pretty
One that is pretty.
Beautiful
Aesthetically pleasing
Pretty
Pretties Delicate clothing, especially lingerie.
Beautiful
(of weather) highly enjoyable;
What a beautiful day
Pretty
To make pretty
Pretty up the house.
Pretty
Pleasant to the sight or other senses; attractive, especially of women or children.
Pretty
Of objects or things: nice-looking, appealing.
Pretty
Fine-looking; only superficially attractive; initially appealing but having little substance; see petty.
Pretty
Cunning; clever, skilful.
Pretty
(dated) Moderately large; considerable.
Pretty
(dated) Excellent, commendable, pleasing; fitting or proper (of actions, thoughts etc.).
Pretty
(ironic) Awkward, unpleasant.
Pretty
Somewhat, fairly, quite; sometimes also (by meiosis) very.
Pretty
(dialect) Prettily, in a pretty manner.
Pretty
A pretty person; a term of address to a pretty person.
Pretty
Something that is pretty.
We'll stop at the knife store and look at the sharp pretties.
Pretty
To make pretty; to beautify
Pretty
Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or impressing; of a pleasing and attractive form a color; having slight or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without elevation or grandeur; pleasingly, but not grandly, conceived or expressed; as, a pretty face; a pretty flower; a pretty poem.
This is the prettiest lowborn lass that everRan on the greensward.
Pretty
Moderately large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune.
Pretty
Affectedly nice; foppish; - used in an ill sense.
The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant in the world.
Pretty
Mean; despicable; contemptible; - used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow.
Pretty
Stout; strong and brave; intrepid; valiant.
[He] observed they were pretty men, meaning not handsome.
Pretty
In some degree; moderately; considerably; rather; almost; - less emphatic than very; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; pretty cold weather.
Pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian.
Pretty
Pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing;
Pretty girl
Pretty song
Pretty room
Pretty
(used ironically) unexpectedly bad;
A pretty mess
A pretty kettle of fish
Pretty
Used as an intensifier (`jolly' is used informally in Britain);
Pretty big
Pretty bad
Jolly decent of him
Pretty
Somewhat, quite.
That movie was pretty good.
Pretty
Attractive in a delicate way without being beautiful.
She has a pretty face.
Common Curiosities
Can pretty be used to describe non-visual attributes?
Typically, pretty is used for visual attributes, though in colloquial speech it can describe feelings, like "pretty good."
Which is a stronger compliment: pretty or beautiful?
Beautiful is often considered a deeper and stronger compliment than pretty.
Is calling someone pretty the same as calling them beautiful?
While both are compliments, beautiful often holds more weight and depth than pretty.
Can landscapes be described as pretty?
Yes, though beautiful might be used for more awe-inspiring or vast landscapes, while pretty for smaller, charming scenes.
Can the term beautiful refer to inner qualities?
Absolutely, people often use beautiful to describe character, spirit, or emotions.
Which word has a broader application?
Beautiful has a broader application, as it can describe visuals, emotions, sounds, and more.
Is pretty an adverb?
Yes, in some contexts, like "pretty good," pretty functions as an adverb.
Is the term pretty subjective?
Yes, both pretty and beautiful are subjective terms and can vary based on personal preference.
Is pretty a diminutive form of compliment?
It can be, depending on context. Pretty is often seen as a milder form of aesthetic appreciation than beautiful.
Can a piece of music be described as pretty?
Music is more commonly described as beautiful if it evokes deep emotions, but a light, pleasing tune can be called pretty.
Can non-tangible things be described as beautiful?
Yes, sentiments, actions, or even thoughts can be described as beautiful.
Which term is more casual?
Pretty is generally more casual and commonly used in daily conversations.
Are there other words synonymous with beautiful?
Yes, words like gorgeous, stunning, and lovely can be synonymous with beautiful.
Can objects be described as beautiful?
Yes, objects, especially those with artistic or aesthetic value, can be described as beautiful.
Can the use of pretty and beautiful overlap?
Absolutely, in many contexts, the two can be interchangeable, though nuances might differ.
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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.
