handkerchiefs

noun

variants also handkerchieves
plural of handkerchief
1
as in madrases
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 towels
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 handkerchiefs People’s handkerchiefs would come away from their foreheads stained with soot. — Daliah Singer, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026 Caught unprepared for chemical warfare and lacking standard-issue gas masks, Allied soldiers improvised by covering their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs or pieces of cloth drenched in water or urine. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026 Fire-resistant clothing should include sturdy shoes, long sleeves and pants, hats, handkerchiefs and high visibility goggles. — Hali Smith august 5, Idaho Statesman, 5 Aug. 2026 That great-grandfather, Gurbachan Singh Maan, had come to Britain in the 1930s as a peddler, walking the lanes of southeast England with a bicycle and an armful of scarves, towels and handkerchiefs. — Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Some were seen drying their eyes with handkerchiefs in a Reuters live video of the scene. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 Lopez wore three custom Ralph Lauren gowns – one a revamp of the designer's turtleneck column dress made with 1,000 handkerchiefs. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 3 July 2026 It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discarded. — Darleene Powells, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026 Their masters stood nearby, traders in thick mantle coats with handkerchiefs wrapped round their heads, smoking and chatting in French. — Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handkerchiefs
  1. bandannas
  2. towels
  3. mantillas
Noun
  • The piece was heavily popularized by Native American jewelers, especially amongst the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni tribes; Historically, Indigenous men would wear bandanas around their necks, punctuated with shells or silver conches.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026
  • T-shirts, socks, lighters, stickers, bandanas and water bottles feature the French outdoor brand’s logo — a white-bearded hiker — alongside Andelman’s signature psychedelic mushroom visual.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of bandannas
Noun
  • One is pink and the other is ochre, with everything from sheets and sinks to towels and tiles obediently adhering to their respective palettes.
    — Rosie Conroy, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • As for cooling him down, the players said the only things available were towels from a cooler, water from the bottles and a garden hose.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of towels
Noun
  • Some of the women had their hair covered in lace mantillas, an old Catholic custom.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 23 June 2026
  • At the funeral for Pope Francis in April, Jill Biden, Queen Letizia of Spain, Princess Charlene of Monaco and Queen Rania of Jordan were among the high-profile royals and global dignitaries who wore mantillas with their mourning attire.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Definition of mantillas

Browse Nearby Words

handkerchief
handkerchiefs
handle
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Cite this Entry

“Handkerchiefs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handkerchiefs. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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