handkerchief

1
as in madras
a scarf worn on the head tied a handkerchief around her head and set about cleaning out the dust-covered attic

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in towel
a small, often square piece of material that is used for personal hygiene purposes usually dries her hands on her handkerchief when there are no towels available

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 handkerchief Menu highlights include: Silk handkerchiefs, walnut butter and confit egg yolk; spicy pork and nduja ragù with tagliatelle and melt in your mouth Gnocchi with roasted tomato and smoked stracciatella. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 Almost any article of clothing can be tie-dyed, from shirts and handkerchiefs to hats and even pillowcases. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 June 2025 Next to her, someone’s head was bandaged with someone else’s handkerchief and bled through it immediately. Jim Shepard, New Yorker, 8 June 2025 Lance Jimenez, a Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigator, said the explosive was made from a 40-ounce Olde English 800 malt liquor bottle and a silky designer handkerchief. Michael R. Sisak, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for handkerchief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handkerchief
Noun
  • Straight teeth and sandy hair, Izod T-shirts and madras skirts and boat shoes.
    Christian Livermore, Longreads, 11 Oct. 2022
  • Straight teeth and sandy hair, Izod T-shirts and madras skirts and boat shoes.
    Christian Livermore, Longreads, 11 Oct. 2022
Noun
  • In addition to outfitting cabanas, sunbeds and deck chairs in sand and dark brown colorways, the Italian company has designed a range of beach essentials, from towels and shoppers to water bottles and hats.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
  • Fred, lithe as a jungle cat, sidled past Irv in his tie-dye and Lily in her towel, and made his way down the hall.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • This case has two compartments — one large enough to carry a small bottle of wine or water, and another set of shelves that shoppers say are large enough to hold glasses, napkins, and snacks.
    Jacqueline Tempera, People.com, 7 July 2025
  • Plates and placemats, yellowed bed linens and napkins, glassware, curios, and sewing kits.
    Libby Buck July 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Gryphon Woodson, a new high school graduate, grabbed a pair of goggles and a black bandanna to cover her face.
    Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
  • Both kids donned the flag’s colors on their T-shirts and heads, the younger in a bandanna and the older in a construction paper crown of blue and red.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Handkerchief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handkerchief. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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