Synonyms of handkerchiefs

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

• madrases
• bandannas
• kerchiefs
• mantillas
• babushkas
• shawls
• do-rags
• hankies

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

• towels
• napkins
• hankies
• kerchiefs
• tissues
• serviettes
• bandannas

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of handkerchiefs

Other fabric scraps of the original dress were used to create handkerchiefs for Noah, her brothers, and herself to carry on the day. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026

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