Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective comely differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of comely are beautiful, fair, handsome, lovely, and pretty. While all these words mean "exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure," comely is like handsome in suggesting what is coolly approved rather than emotionally responded to.

the comely grace of a dancer

When is it sensible to use beautiful instead of comely?

The words beautiful and comely can be used in similar contexts, but beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses.

beautiful mountain scenery

When would fair be a good substitute for comely?

Although the words fair and comely have much in common, fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness.

fair of face

When might handsome be a better fit than comely?

In some situations, the words handsome and comely are roughly equivalent. However, handsome suggests aesthetic pleasure due to proportion, symmetry, or elegance.

a handsome Georgian mansion

How do lovely and beautiful relate to one another, in the sense of comely?

Lovely is close to beautiful but applies to a narrower range of emotional excitation in suggesting the graceful, delicate, or exquisite.

a lovely melody

Where would pretty be a reasonable alternative to comely?

The meanings of pretty and comely largely overlap; however, pretty often applies to superficial or insubstantial attractiveness.

a painter of conventionally pretty scenes

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 comely Instead, his big conversion comes later, after Rafael takes a fist to the face for dancing with a local tough guy’s comely fiancée. Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Aug. 2023 Connecticut-raised Troy’s debut novel, Floating, imagines a dinky, dusty town in Arizona where its comely protagonist, Ruby, falls in love with her husband’s estranged, cowboy brother. Hazlitt, 4 May 2022 The comely stars, who are excellent at trolling each other online, are already parents to daughters James, 4, and Inez, 2. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2019 Furthermore, the plant is topped by comely flowers, which in time proudly adorned the button-holes of no less than Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, in their day intentionally marketing the potato to a then-skeptical proletariat. Bill St. John, The Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2019 See All Example Sentences for comely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comely
Adjective
  • The handsome and charismatic Lord Edward Fitzgerald, an Anglican son of a duke, renounced his title and commanded the society’s militia.
    Joseph Patrick Kelly, The Conversation, 20 May 2025
  • Ian had been handsome, popular, in love with a new girlfriend—the kind of golden boy upon whom fortune smiles.
    Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • That has to be an attractive thing to keep players and to acquire players as well.
    The Athletic FC Podcast, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • Díaz notes that family and animation titles are increasingly attractive not just in Europe but in Latin America and other territories where independent animation has proven box-office potential.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • That's why the new savings account for children included in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill , with a one-time deposit of $1,000 from the federal government, is truly beautiful to the investment community.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Leatherman, who has been evaluating beaches since 1991, has developed a 50-factor checklist for determining the most beautiful expanses of sand in the United States.
    Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • The scoring sequence followed a lovely Bobrovsky save on a shorthanded odd-man rush — the Cats firing on all cylinders.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
  • Why the lovely Mehri falls for such a loser — Hamid is one of the least charming grooms in recent memory — can only by explained by the lack of options available to her.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • She has been married twice, marrying director Chris Calkins in 2009. 08 of 09 Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd Woody Harrelson's Woody Boyd joined Cheers in season 4 as a not-so-bright but very cute bartender.
    Kate Hogan, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • There are some funny bits including Kenan Thompson’s moment and joking about Sherman getting fired, but the most apt word to describe this monologue is cute.
    Rosa Escandon, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • There was even a collaboration with Hello Kitty featuring Ito’s monstrous Tomie, a creature who resembles a pretty girl but can grow a copy of herself from her smallest part and infest her victims.
    Sam Thielman, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • Fold linens neatly, use decorative baskets to corral smaller pieces, and work in a couple of decorative items such as a pretty storage box to dress up the piece.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • At the same time, its layers of details are gorgeous and priceless.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 May 2025
  • Loose, fluttery sleeves add gorgeous detailing to its otherwise simple silhouette, while its V-neck cut is especially flattering without revealing too much skin.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • With charming Old-World looks trending across fashion and interiors, this prediction comes as no surprise.
    Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2025
  • Called the Grand Ole Opry Camel Caravan, the troupe appeared exclusively for military members at bases throughout the U.S. and Central America during the summer of 1941, charming soldiers with toe-tapping hillbilly music and comedy from Minnie Pearl.
    Lindsay Kusiak, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Comely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comely. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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