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Original poster

Stunning or beautiful

84 replies

irenestubbs · 10/03/2025 17:41

That stunning is more of a compliment than beautiful

OP posts:
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Feelinghurt2 · 12/03/2025 16:29

If someone uses the term stunning, I always wonder if it means that the person or thing they have seen has actually stunned them, but not necessarily in a good way. Like if you saw or were in a car accident and came away feeling stunned. I would much prefer someone to tell me that I was clever or funny or nice to be around. Looks are fleeting.

Original poster
irenestubbs · 12/03/2025 09:55

Sorry
MIND aesthetically

OP posts:
Original poster
irenestubbs · 12/03/2025 09:53

Dictionary definition

Stunning - extremely impressive or attractive

Gorgeous- beautiful or attractive

Beautiful- pleasing the sense or kind aesthetically

OP posts:
FurzeNotGorse · 12/03/2025 08:42

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 11/03/2025 21:44

Lol, there are almost no 21 year olds called Tracy, stunning or otherwise.

Show quote history

That poster is clearly referring to the ‘heyday’ of the Page Three girl, when Tracys abounded.

onwardsup4 · 12/03/2025 08:40

DoYouReally · 10/03/2025 17:45

I think stunning can be both permanent or temporary. (I.e. looked stunning on wedding day).

Beautiful is less fleeting.

Tbh, it depends on the compliment covers definition.

Agree with this. My OH has said I look stunning a few times. Calls me beautiful all the time. I know for a fact that I rarely look "stunning" when he calls me beautiful he means beautiful to him.
OP if it's just looks based him saying you look stunning is the best compliment on your looks you'll get from a man I think.

TwoRobins · 12/03/2025 08:37

I think you can be stunning without being essentially beautiful, but that beauty is always stunning, so I'd rather be called beautiful.

mamajong · 12/03/2025 08:23

Context is everything. Both are a compliment but from the wrong person (e.g. a colleague) both can be sleazy or give the ick

DuchessOfNarcissex · 12/03/2025 08:10

@MissScarletInTheBallroom , there are lots of Tracy/Traceys my age.
I know lots of Chloes, their parents are my age.

Babies called Chloe in England & Wales since 1996
Nearly 10K of them registered in 1998!

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 12/03/2025 06:29

DuchessOfNarcissex · 11/03/2025 22:38

@MissScarletInTheBallroom Babies called Tracy in England & Wales since 1996. There might be.Smile

OK, there are about 13 of them.

Compared to over 5000 Chloes!

Yerblues · 11/03/2025 23:13

irenestubbs · 10/03/2025 18:02

I've been called gorgeous by one man
And stunning by another

No overthinking either just what would you prefer

How about big-headed?

Undrugged · 11/03/2025 22:45

Stunning to me has a cultural connotation. I’d associate it more as denoting a well-kept woman, possibly with enhancements. Beautiful is worth 10 stunnings to me, but this may be a region, feminist and age thing,

LoveSandbanks · 11/03/2025 22:42

VivaVivaa · 10/03/2025 17:43

I’d be happy to be called either right now to be honest 😅

I’d be happy if someone said I looked “well rested” 🙄

DuchessOfNarcissex · 11/03/2025 22:38

@MissScarletInTheBallroom Babies called Tracy in England & Wales since 1996. There might be.Smile

DuchessOfNarcissex · 11/03/2025 22:32

@LostMyLanyard , same here.

@FurzeNotGorse , wasn't she a 'sexy stunna'? She wasn't known for her legs, although I'm sure they were fine.

LostMyLanyard · 11/03/2025 22:22

The best I've ever been 'called' is: she scrubs up well 👌🏻😬🤣

mondaytosunday · 11/03/2025 22:16

Stunning is different to beautiful. You can be a classic beauty but not attractive, in the animal sense. Stunning, to me, suggests something extra, something that would stop you in your tracks. You can be stunning without being a conventional beauty.

FurzeNotGorse · 11/03/2025 22:08

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 10/03/2025 17:44

I'd say the opposite! Beautiful sounds more classy and about your inherent natural looks. I associate 'stunning' with shit newspapers saying '21 year-old blonde stunner, Tracy' etc.

Yes, exactly this.

‘Stunning’ has connotations of ‘Nigel leering at leggy lovely Linda Lusardi’ to me. Ugh.

DuchessOfNarcissex · 11/03/2025 21:55

@aliceinawonderland , an beautiful people are beautiful at any age, where as those who are stunning tend to loose their looks.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 11/03/2025 21:44

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 10/03/2025 17:44

I'd say the opposite! Beautiful sounds more classy and about your inherent natural looks. I associate 'stunning' with shit newspapers saying '21 year-old blonde stunner, Tracy' etc.

Lol, there are almost no 21 year olds called Tracy, stunning or otherwise.

aliceinawonderland · 11/03/2025 21:42

Beautiful is more about bone structure and will be long lasting.

Californianpoppy · 11/03/2025 21:36

Beautiful is softer and, arguably, can't be made.

Stunning can be manufactured with the right tools.

Having said that, it's all in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? When I first met dh, I was amazed that women weren't throwing themselves at his feet. 😂

I've never been pretty, but I reckon I can carry an old fashioned 'handsome.'

SwanOfThoseThings · 11/03/2025 07:20

I see 'stunning' as a whole-person compliment, and referring to an adult's overall look (you wouldn't call a very pretty child 'stunning') incorporating things over which they have some control - - clothes, figure, make-up.

'Beautiful' usually refers to how you look naturally, predominantly your facial features. You could be 'beautiful' but dressed in scruffy clothes; it's unlikely you'd be called 'stunning' in that situation.

I'm not either 😆

Girlintheframe · 11/03/2025 07:02

I've met people who are stunning but wouldn't say they were beautiful. Stunning is like striking. It's something about a persons look that makes you look twice. It's overstated. Beautiful is different imo. Tbh I'd be quite happy with either and both are a compliment

EconomyClassRockstar · 11/03/2025 00:14

And now I just look like the average perimenopausal woman but I still don't have a grey hair so I'll take that!

EconomyClassRockstar · 11/03/2025 00:13

I spent a year as a nanny in the aristo world and a semi famous Lady once told me was I was stunning and I still dine out on that, 30 years later. So, yes. Stunning for the win!