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
  • In 1923, the handsome thirty-one-year-old movie star Wallace Reid died from morphine and alcohol addiction.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
  • All the Hamrick brothers are handsome, though in slightly different ways, like dogs born in different litters to the same purebred parents.
    David Sedaris, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Investments in private equity, real estate crowdfunding and digital assets have surged as younger investors proactively manage risks related to inflation and market downturns, seeking stable yet attractive returns.
    Hemanth Golla, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The use of renewable coconut husks may be an attractive point for anyone looking to make their home more eco-conscious.
    Michelle Rostamian, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • The job was to find a photographer or find a model, pack a trunk of clothes and flit off to St. Moritz for a week and take beautiful pictures and come back.
    A Martínez, NPR, 27 June 2025
  • The beautiful game has all too often been marred by unsavory incidents of bigotry.
    Hannah Ryan, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • With so many lovely fruits at our fingertips, there’s no reason to trifle with making a trifle this summer.
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
  • The post goes on to include a lovely list of recommendations for both kids and adults looking to scratch a fantastical itch.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Amazon is stocked with tons of cute coin purses that capture the kawaii aesthetic of Japanese street style.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2025
  • Sourced from our favorite spots like J.Crew, Gap, Nordstrom Rack, and Amazon, these linen pieces are high quality and cute.
    Jeaneen Russell, People.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Candice took us to the west, the prettier side of the compound, where the maze lay, and the gardens and pond.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
  • This experience showed me that luxury brands don't return as clients for pretty things alone.
    Kristina Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • On top of the pocket perk, the prints of this high-waist maxi skirt are gorgeous, with pretty florals, geometric designs, and solid colors.
    Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 4 July 2025
  • This crossbody phone case is made from genuine leather and has gorgeous gold accents.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • To-be-weds can exchange vows in one of the islands’ hundreds of charming chapels or on cliffsides with views of the gorgeous blue Mediterranean.
    Shelby Wax, Vogue, 24 June 2025
  • She was born on February 1, 1971, to a large family and grew up in Guanajuato, whose historic center is a charming former silver mining town with colonial architecture and colorful, blocky houses stacked like Legos on the dramatic hillside.
    Rebecca Grant June 24, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Comely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comely. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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