Antonyms for pretty

Grammar : Adj, adv

Spell : prit-ee

Phonetic Transcription : ˈprɪt i

Definition of pretty

Origin : Old English prættig (West Saxon), pretti (Kentish), *prettig (Mercian) "cunning, skillful, artful, wily, astute," from prætt, *prett "a trick, wile, craft," from West Germanic *pratt- (cf. Old Norse prettr "a trick," prettugr "tricky;" Frisian pret, Middle Dutch perte, Dutch pret "trick, joke," Dutch prettig "sportive, funny," Flemish pertig "brisk, clever"), of unknown origin.
Connection between Old English and Middle English words is uncertain, but if they are the same, meaning had shifted by c.1400 to "manly, gallant," and later moved via "attractive, skillfully made," to "fine," to "beautiful in a slight way" (mid-15c.). Ironical use from 1530s. For sense evolution, compare nice, silly. Also used of bees (c.1400). "After the OE. period the word is unknown till the 15th c., when it becomes all at once frequent in various senses, none identical with the OE., though derivable from it" [OED].
Meaning "not a few, considerable" is from late 15c. With a sense of "moderately," qualifying adjectives and adverbs, since 1560s. Pretty please as an emphatic plea is attested from 1902. A pretty penny "lot of money" is first recorded 1768.

adj attractive
adv considerable; somewhat

Example sentences :

You folks been cuttin' a pretty wide swath here in New York.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

"I've got something to do pretty quick," thought Robert, with satisfaction.
Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger

"That's a pretty good afternoon's work," he said to himself.
Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger

Seems to me she did pretty well here; I don't see any kicks due her.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

"I've got a pretty good digestion, mother," said Robert, laughing.
Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger

If she had said, "Pretty Annie," there would have been some sense in it.
Extract from : « Little Annie's Ramble (From "Twice Told Tales") » by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Let me ask you, child, if you will give your pretty proposal in writing?
Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson

"I may be pretty rotten, but I'm not that kind of cad," said he.
Extract from : « Viviette » by William J. Locke

You'll make a pretty little target against the light, besides.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

Even Ashton said, "Weston, you are coming it pretty strong, old fellow!"
Extract from : « Life in London » by Edwin Hodder

Synonyms for pretty

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019