handwriting

noun

ˈhand-ˌrī-tiŋ How to pronounce handwriting (audio)
Definition of handwritingnext
1
as in scribble
the form or style of a particular person's writing she immediately recognized the handwriting on the envelope as that of her old college roommate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in calligraphy
writing done by hand the columnist laments the decline of fine handwriting, as so few people write letters by hand anymore

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of handwriting Additional tests could include handwriting analysis, fingerprint scans and DNA examination, the Journal reported. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 There was little or no organization among them, and some were scrawled in barely decipherable handwriting. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 George Hodel’s handwriting also resembled that on notes sent by the killer to law enforcement. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 June 2026 The issue for many fans was that Jeopardy had previously ruled players incorrect for similarly muddled handwriting. — Louis Peitzman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for handwriting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handwriting
  1. scribble
  2. calligraphy
  3. hand
  4. lettering
  5. script
  6. penmanship
  7. signature
  8. print
Noun
  • Some three hours into the four-hour drive, the road plunged into a dizzying scribble of hairpin bends, eventually spitting us out into the Colca Valley, where, at the end of 2023, Andean pitched up Puqio.
    — Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
  • Weil, the author of three previous books, alternates between a lengthy letter Silas scribbles to his son, Elisha, a teenager still in Pennsylvania, and a gory reckoning (narrated in the third person) among peaks and gorges during the autumn of 1849.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 June 2026
Definition of scribble
Noun
  • The organizers added taiko drum performances, Japanese flower arrangement demonstrations, calligraphy showcases and other staples of the culture, which have remained core to the festival over more than six decades.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The collection includes examples of calligraphy, painting, ceramics, metal- and stonework.
    — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of calligraphy
Noun
  • Redbord pointed to how this token was concentrated in a small number of hands and price support eroded gradually, instead of all at once.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Chad Gable and Penta shook hands as Gable’s family watched from ringside.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of hand
Noun
  • The pattern references Gawthorpe Hall (the historic country house on whose grounds Burnley’s training base is located) and the lettering is based on our old programmes.
    — Matt Slater, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • One suspect wore all black and black sunglasses, while the other sported a green shirt with white lettering and black-and-white sneakers, cops said.
    — Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026
Definition of lettering
Noun
  • Vin Diesel is very pleased with the script for the 11th Fast & Furious film.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The Twilight star leaned on Zendaya throughout production, especially when part of the script didn’t sit right with him.
    — Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of script
Noun
  • But while in his penmanship, the recipe still has her hands all over it.
    — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
  • Many pointed to an episode from the month prior, where a response from contestant Sadie Goldberger was not accepted because of her penmanship.
    — Louis Peitzman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026
Definition of penmanship
Noun
  • Butterfly Bash was introduced as the signature celebration of the milestone year.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The photographic promise of the star in an easy, lighthearted mode is borne out by a clutch of songs that drift by for the most part in that dreamy, gossamer-like higher vocal, more of a whisper than her signature belt.
    — Aimee Cliff, Pitchfork, 31 July 2026
Definition of signature
Noun
  • The collection also offers a ringer tee, pocket tee and garden tote with an all-over Levi’s x Sky High Farm Goods print.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 July 2026
  • After appearing on the spring-summer 2026 runways at Khaite, Tory Burch, and Altuzarra, this season’s reboot is all about modern silhouettes and fresh styling tricks that make the print feel exciting again.
    — Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 21 July 2026
Definition of print

Phrases Containing handwriting

Browse Nearby Words

hand-wringing
handwriting
handwriting on the wall
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Cite this Entry

“Handwriting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handwriting. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on handwriting

Nglish: Translation of handwriting for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about handwriting

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