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
  • Amenities: Restaurants, bars, pool, spa, fitness center, beauty salon, kid’s club, sea access Insider Tip: Don’t forget to book a treatment at the new Dior Spa Eden-Roc, just opened last season.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 8 June 2025
  • The resort provides stunning villas and suites for guests that were designed to capture the beauty and warmth of the region.
    Robin Raven, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • Here the handsome yellow and gray Palazzo del Capitolo building is close to Jana’s Café, where tank topped and tattooed visitors sipped rather than chugged espressos.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • These escapades are set in 1950 and have a handsome vintage color palette of white, gray, green, metal and wood.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • For starters, native plants are more attractive to pollinators, but they're also perfectly adapted to local growing conditions and will return year after year with minimal fuss.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2025
  • Showcasing this kind of innovation made the company more attractive to creative and tech-savvy talent.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • Look at this, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful building.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
  • Their beautiful bi-level home is hidden on a backstreet in Palermo.
    Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • Trailing types make a lovely ground cover at the edge of a rain garden.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
  • The lovely gorge setting makes Screw Auger a popular place to visit in the summer.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • The knotted fabric straps have an elevated look, making these cute enough to wear with your favorite sundresses and skirts.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2025
  • In addition to pool and beach looks, these slides look cute with baggy jeans and graphic tank tops, flowy midi dresses, and two-piece linen sets.
    Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • There’s an oppressive summer heat wave and he’s confined to his apartment, with the occasional visit of his middle-aged nurse, Stella (Thelma Ritter) and his pretty socialite girlfriend, Lisa (Grace Kelly).
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • Naked Sunday’s sunscreen replaces my foundation with a radiant finish that’s too pretty to cover up, and Luna Nectar’s serum gives a boost of antioxidant protection.
    Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 1 June 2025
Adjective
  • This wonderful, hopeful video shares the gorgeous songs of these vanishing birds.
    GrrlScientist, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The double-height reception room and its gorgeous grand piano add a touch of drama to the living quarters while Philip Jeffries wallpaper and curated vintage furnishings bring warmth and personality to every corner.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Comeliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comeliness. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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