What is the difference between "beautiful" and "attractive"?

Question

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

"Human Beauty" is an objective set of standards manifested by natural selection. Things like men not being attracted to 90 year old women. (how far would their genes go) Things like symmetry (many asymmetrical signs are a result of genetic mutations which classify as unhealthy). And so on.
It can simply be defined as "characteristics that provide a evolutionary advantage in an individual to pass on his or her genes."

That which is "attractive" Is a set of subjective standards which are a collection of neural cluster formations caused by human selection to external stimuli.
In other words. People can be "attracted" to a crap sandwich and have the desire to have sex with it.
This can be aligned with that which is beautiful but its not always the case.
One can be "attracted" to a bottle of whiskey, in the sense that it draws them to it.

To call a bottle of whisky "beautiful" would not be correct in the context of human selection.
To say that someone is "attracted" to it would be a little more correct.

Those choices

CubsterShura · Accepted Answer

I think of attractive as being something more enticing and commanding a lot more attention while beautiful is just there... Beautiful. But not necessarily as loud or enticing as attractive. Like you could talk to or notice a person and it could come to your mind that this person is beautiful, whereas you recognize an attractive person when they just walk past you or wander around you at a gathering.

I think both of them are the same in the way that both of them can mean beyond looks, they can also be personality and style... But yeah. Mostly they are the same thing but I hope I could explain the slight difference that I think these two words have. Almost everyone attractive is beautiful but not everyone beautiful is attractive. Plenty of beautiful people out there who may not draw a lot of attraction among people.

JustADuDuDude · Accepted Answer

Honestly, to me, there hasn't been too much of a difference, lol. I don't think that deep into things. 😂

But beautiful can be applied to non-human things, while I don't think attractive can be.

Nature can be beautiful. A piece of art can be beautiful. Animals can be beautiful. However, I've never heard anyone describe those things as attractive... lol.

For a girl I like, if I called her beautiful or attractive, it'd be about the same compliment. Basically a more mature way to tell her she's good looking rather than just calling her "cute."

winterfox10 · Accepted Answer

Beautiful has an element of personality too. Attractive is just physical.

Sonorous · Answer

I view them interchangeably because they both mean that something is pleasing to the senses. But people will often view being called "attractive" as more sexually or romantically attractive though. It often holds more meaning and is a very personal thing. Like it would be weird-sounding (to me) if an old man said to a little girl, "You're a very attractive young lady." But it would sound less weird if he said: "You're a beautiful young lady."

Of course, context matters above anything. But even in the right context, I feel that calling someone "attractive" could be viewed as having many underlying meanings behind it, which can come across a bit unsettling depending on the situation. I feel that "Beautiful" is just a common compliment that most times loses its true meaning in social situations for the sake of politeness. But that's just my opinion. 👌

sageevalentinee · Answer

To me beautiful is something that is... just there. A beautiful dress, a beautiful girl. It exists and it is nice to look at.

Attractive is an entirely different thing. To be attractive is not just looks it's your manner, the way you carry yourself, your confidence and sense of self worth. You attract people, people like you, people are drawn to you, because of your actions, not just your looks. For example, someone who makes excellent speeches is probably attractive, in their charisma and presence.

And to answer your update, not all all beautiful people are attractive. Beauty can be a subset of being attractive, something that aids you. Think of a beautiful girl, with a terrible attitude, who is very rude and anable to make friends due to social crutch. Might slouch + act very insecure and jealous. She's not attractive.

Nik1hil · Answer

Beautiful is something that you want to observe and enjoy..

Attractive is something that pulls you closer to get closer! To observe it.

To touch it and obtain more than visual pleasure from it..

Like a flower is beautiful..
But a girl is attractive..
For a boy

Felinegirl · Answer

Beautiful is just physical, outward appearance. Attractive is more than that, warmth, posture, expressions and behavior play huge parts there too. In addition, beautiful doesn't have to be sexual (a child can be beautiful, a flower can be too), while attraction is definitely sexual/romantic.

Dali-chan · Answer

Beautiful peoples have a symmetrical face, and soft features and they are pretty by their country’s standards ( eye and hair color, height,...) . Attractive peoples are charismatic and charming by the way they carry themselves.

Xyline789 · Answer

I think attractive refers only to a girl's physical attractiveness and is similar to "pretty." When I think of a beautiful girl, I think of a girl who has everything I'd want and as they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. A beautiful girl is one I'd marry.

Ally247 · Answer

When I see the word beautiful, I think of classic/traditional beauty. (Emma Watson, Blake Lively, Scarlet Johanson.) When I see attractive, I think of features that are intriguing, tend to capture you. May not be attractive at first, but the attraction grows everytime you see them. (Lily James, Lily Collins, Zendaya, Kiera Knightley.)

BCA6010 · Answer

Beautiful = pleasing to look at.

Attractive = Has qualities that make others want to be around them. Can be/usually used in regards to physical attractiveness, but can go deeper than that.

It's possible to be one and not the other, though most of the time they are used interchangeably.

Dongtai · Answer

Beautiful is like I can see myself waking up next to you. As in if you were the only person they’d be able to wake up to each morning, that would be perfectly fine for them.

Attractive is like I can see myself having sex with you. Not necessarily marrying you. But you get the oven going.

starfyredragon · Answer

Beautiful: Aesthetically pleasing

Attractive: Is sexually appealling.

Although there is overlap, something can be attractive without being beautiful, and something can be beautiful without being attractive.

Example of beautiful without attractive:
A piece of well done abstract art

Example of attractive without beautiful:
After-sex glow bed-head. People are disheveled, messy, and not beautiful, but it can definitely be hot.

Kurαȷ · Answer

Attractive is the more formal term in my vocabulary.
I would label a stranger attractive, should they ask for my opinion on their appearance.
But I would only label someone beautiful if they were close to me, such as a friend or a partner.

AlexanderBrunnrgaard · Answer

Attractive can mean that you acknowledge someone as having good features, but it does not have to mean that you are attracted to them, beautiful always indicates attraction. At least that's how I view the terms.

KoshkaKitten · Answer

Beautiful is based on the aesthetic (is that the word?) of their look, it takes more effort to do, attractive is based on sexual appeal. Beautiful is often attractive as well simply because of how stunning it looks but attractive doesn’t necessarily mean beautiful

At least that’s how I see it

Insomniacstoner · Answer

Beauty is a very open ended subject. A lot of things are beautiful Christmas lights, fireworks, flowers, sunrise, sunsets, mountains, valleys, art, music, literature, etc., but are we attracted to everyone of em equally?
We're not hence attraction is the beauty that resonates with us I guess

theoste · Answer

Beautiful is based on your look while attractive is more of an attitude thing, body language. A woman/man can be really beautiful but not that much attractive and the opposite. Attractive people like being in the limelight.

Passinggas · Answer

Beautiful is for the masses and attraction is for the individual. I find many beautiful women by social standards very unattractive while a plain, fun woman can keep my attention with much attraction.

Xoirwinkan · Answer

Something beautiful gives you great pleasure just by looking at it (assuming its a visual beauty you are talking about); something "merely attractive" may just appeal to your sexual preferences.

Below is shown my idea of what the range of attraction is for a girl you find attractive. From cute to sexy, where all forms can be sexy as well. I prefer more towards the cute side.

What is the difference between "beautiful" and "attractive"?

Dark93 · Answer

If you think of it like art, beauty would be seeing a master artwork and thinking it looks good, but it doesn't evoke any strong feelings.

Attractive would be if the artwork made you feel a strong emotion even if it wasn't a masterwork, what matters is that you had a real reaction to it.

bimmy5000 · Answer

Beautiful is something that can get admired, that maybe a lot of work and care was put into it. Attractive, well suppose it depends on context. I could be attracted to a beautiful or find a good car for a incredible deal attractive.

jgokgotit · Answer

Beautiful simply means someone looks amazing and better than average. Attractive means there is something about someone that makes people want to be around them. Beauty can attract someone initially but not make them attractive.

Chris200 · Answer

Beautiful vs attractive has one difference people who see someone as attractive that means they are interested in a relationship vs people who are beautiful but would not seek a relationship

losingimhibitions · Answer

Attractive is like a force pulling you and the other person together, like instinctual, but beautiful means that the heart is quickened, and passion is rushing through as you wonder what goddess incarnate. Not always sexual, meaning intercourse, but you want to touch every curve of beautiful. Beautiful art.

DanishSaint · Answer

beautiful can cover a lot of things. Classic beauty, beautiful features... whatever... but it is not always necessarily something you are directly attracted to...
Attracted to = I could fuck that! Pardon my french!

MrGentleman94 · Answer

Beautiful = bright, emanating shine Attractive = magnetic

Pulimuli · Answer

You can be attractive without being beautiful

in my opinion beautiful means incredibly good looking, its a step above attractive. You can also be beautiful but not very sexy, like a perfectly sculpted statue

normalice · Answer

just because a painting is a true work of art doesn't mean you have a wall in your house it would look good on.

Anonymous · Answer

some girls a beautiful but not attractive, especially if their beauty is innocent and girly... it's nice to watch but I have no desire to touch
other girls are attractive on sexual level, their beauty is different, more mature feminine

nonideal · Answer

beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfʊl, ˈbjuːtɪf (ə) l/ adjective pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically. beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfʊl, ˈbjuːtɪf (ə) l/ adjective pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.

JSmuve · Answer

Attractive is an umbrella term while beautiful is a specific type of attractiveness. All beautiful girls are attractive but not all attractive girls are beautiful.

SufiStorm · Answer

If you are judging girlfriend or marriage material, pick attractive. If you are judging playboy models, "beautiful" is better.

mermaidia_lol · Answer

beau·ti·ful

/ˈbyo͞odəfəl/

adjective

pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.

at·trac·tive

/əˈtraktiv/

adjective

(of a thing) pleasing or appealing to the senses.

"an attractive home"

(of a person) appealing to look at; sexually

Raheemudheen · Answer

You feel beautiful when you like them for real and that feeling stays. Attractiveness can be impulsive but may fade away with time.

Reaperbot666 · Answer

To me. Beautiful is natural beauty. Attractive is artificial beauty.

TheKack · Answer

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Attractiveness is genetically coded into us when looking for a mate. At least, that's how I see it. They are technically synonyms with each other.

Sssss993 · Answer

Attractive can be ugly person but u wanna screw him. like christiano ronaldo and enrique iglesias  Beautiful like Leonardo DiCaprio while he was young.

ConfusedGuy96 · Answer

I usually use 'attractive' when referring to someone good-looking but not attractive enough to make me stare ou be crazy about. If she's someone that makes me go 'wow' when i see her then she's 'beautiful', not just attractive.

Máiiréad · Answer

Pretty is something you can see, Beauty can only be seen with the heart.

NyfikenSyd · Answer

Beautiful usually only applies to the appearance while attractive can mean personality. But most of the time they are interchangeable.

Kezzz · Answer

Beautiful is anything that makes you feel good about Life and things it has to offer Attractive is something you're just drawn to. It's pleasing but only temporary

call_me_S · Answer

Beautiful is for the face or the place that you find cute or pretty Attractive is for the person you like to have him/her as your bf/gf Thats for me Dont hate lol

MusicMayhem · Answer

Attractive has sexual connotations to it, beautiful doesn't. Beautiful elicits class.

Swat_ · Answer

A beautiful is a girl who fits beauty standards. An attractive person is someone you want to get close with.

Anonymous · Answer

the only real difference is who's saying the words. all those type of words can be used to mean the same thing.

loki35 · Answer

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, atractiveness is what is socially accepted as acceptable.

MsShyasf · Answer

In my opinion... Attractive or cute 😊 - is someone that’s a little above Average. Beautiful or hot 🥵 is when someone is above cuteness level

alex_x988 · Answer

Attractive can be any girl but beautiful is that one special girl! Even with flaws she still looks the most beautiful woman!

sp33d · Answer

A drawing can be beautiful, but it's certainly not attractive.

digbug675 · Answer

Beautiful is always used to describe a person's face, but attractiveness goes beyond a person's looks and see's the person.

SubBoy997 · Answer

Attractive girl could expect ton of guys chasing her and wanting to put their penises in her vagina Beautiful girl could expect engagement ring.

Marklaw12 · Answer

Being beautiful is a given. Being attractive you need to work towards.

clampfan101 · Answer

Attractive is a very general term. Beautiful is much more specific.

YHL6965 · Answer

Beautiful is purely physical, attractive englobes other characteristics.

Anonymous · Answer

beauty solely based on appearance & finding something really visually appealing attraction is literally anything that just gets your attention for no apparent reason & you really like it

Cocacolaaddict · Answer

Attractive is like sexy fills you with desire beautiful is just really pretty, pleasing face

DeathRowKingPin · Answer

The person who says it you can look at it and think that’s disgusting 👀 so personal preference

Anonymous · Answer

You can tell your daughter that she's beautiful but if you were to say attractive... Well let's just say it wouldn't end well. 😅

xesadd007 · Answer

Attraction occurred by thoughts of viewer. And beauty is beauty.

saifgo · Answer

Attractive when i get a boner beautiful when my heart skip a bit

MsElizabeth96 · Answer

I Think it depends on the context

mario_with_no_luigi · Answer

Attractive is more sexual

What is the difference between "beautiful" and "attractive"?

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