Beautiful is probably the highest compliment, because it`s respectful and kinda ego-boosting. When they call you pretty, it`s a lesser version of beautiful but it`s still a nice compliment. Pretty is a term that friends like using amongst each other (at least my friend group, id.k for anyone else).
Cute is just straight up flirtatious, unless you`re talking to a friend. It`s the all-purpose term for complimenting lm.ao
In organizations especially in the military, the one who gives the order usually comes from the top position. It is transferred from the next to the highest position and passed until it reaches the lowest in rank.
