as in few
a small number
only a handful of people signed up for the wintertime hike
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Recent Examples of handful
Norby and Graham Pauley are the main contenders at third base while a handful of players (including outfielder Griffin Conine and offseason signing Christopher Morel) among the players competing for playing time at first base.
—
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Google co-founder Sergey Brin and a handful of other CEOs recently loaded $35 million into a ballot measure committee and spent some of it on two separate efforts to lower housing costs.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
There were a handful of smaller deals as well.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026
What could be more symbolic of a world uniting in divisive times than literally splicing together a handful of geographically separate events for a global audience to consume as a more or less cohesive whole?
—Judy Berman, Time, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handful
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Google co-founder Sergey Brin and a handful of other CEOs recently loaded $35 million into a ballot measure committee and spent some of it on two separate efforts to lower housing costs.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
There were a handful of smaller deals as well.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026
What could be more symbolic of a world uniting in divisive times than literally splicing together a handful of geographically separate events for a global audience to consume as a more or less cohesive whole?
—Judy Berman, Time, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handful
couple
Noun
-
Prosecutors allege Richins poisoned her husband with a cocktail laced with illicit fentanyl while the couple was celebrating at their home in March 2022.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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Seoul, South Korea — Excited young couples roam a bustling convention center trying on baby carriers, testing strollers and learning the latest safety features of car seats.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handful. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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