comeliness 1 of 2

comely

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adjective

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 comeliness
Adjective
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 comeliness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comeliness
Noun
  • Case in point: the rapper and singer has only been to two Met Galas, but both her fashion and beauty looks have cemented themselves as some of the most memorable to date.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 3 May 2025
  • Here are 16 beauty products that are on sale now at Walmart: Original price: $149 Get perfect curls no matter what your hair length with this iron.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Also receiving handsome compensation, though not a CEO, at WWE and UFC owner TKO?
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025
  • With a handsome frame made of eucalyptus wood and a woven rope seat, this rocking chair is all about craftsmanship without the fuss.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • Additionally, the passing by defencemen from deep in the zone is more effective because there is often more than one attractive passing option.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • Though plants are deciduous, attractive exfoliating bark adds interest and texture through the winter months.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • Churches aren’t just beautiful buildings that uplift New York.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
  • The property has beautiful minimalist, modern design with pops of natural wood accents and stunning views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.
    Kimberley Mok, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Flavors of light red fruit, cherry tart and sparking acidity with a lovely finish and pronounced length.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • The plot is basic and the dialogue merely serviceable, but there are lovely scenery shots throughout, the vastness, gentle light and deep colors of the American West illustrated carefully and evocatively by Hutchins’ — and Cline’s — camera work.
    Jocelyn Noveck, Boston Herald, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • At a press screening of the film in March, these cute, interstitial clips drew big laughs.
    Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 7 May 2025
  • Wine corks also make cute place card holders and wine glass charms.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • Their romance proceeds in soft focus with a soundtrack of accelerated heartbeats and musical interludes, as well as pretty camera shots of raindrops flashing in the sun.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
  • As a subset of flowering plants figured out long ago, many flies and some beetles are drawn to the putrid and foul over the pretty and floral.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • That’s good, but cladding a phone whose raison d’etre is gorgeous, slim design seems less than ideal.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • The gorgeous shade is just one part of the autumn color palette, though.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Comeliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comeliness. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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