HANDSOME Synonyms: 367 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'handsome' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of handsome are beautiful , comely , fair , lovely , and pretty . While all these words mean "exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure," handsome suggests aesthetic pleasure due to proportion, symmetry, or elegance. // a handsome Georgian mansion

Q: When is it sensible to use 'beautiful' instead of 'handsome'?

While the synonyms beautiful and handsome are close in meaning, beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses. // beautiful mountain scenery

Q: How are the words 'comely' and 'handsome' related?

Comely is like handsome in suggesting what is coolly approved rather than emotionally responded to. // the comely grace of a dancer

Q: When could 'fair' be used to replace 'handsome'?

The synonyms fair and handsome are sometimes interchangeable, but fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness. // fair of face

Q: How do 'lovely' and 'beautiful' relate to one another, in the sense of 'handsome'?

Lovely is close to beautiful but applies to a narrower range of emotional excitation in suggesting the graceful, delicate, or exquisite. // a lovely melody

Q: When would 'pretty' be a good substitute for 'handsome'?

The words pretty and handsome can be used in similar contexts, but pretty often applies to superficial or insubstantial attractiveness. // a painter of conventionally pretty scenes

handsome

adjective

ˈhan(t)-səm

Definition of handsome next

as in graceful

having or showing elegance the glass-topped table was a handsome addition to the room

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as in large

of a size greater than average of its kind earns a handsome salary as senior vice president of the firm

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as in beautiful

very pleasing to look at a handsome man with finely chiseled features

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as in sizable

sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention real estate developers realized a handsome profit on that deal

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a handsome face

an attractive face

a pleasing face

a lovely face

a fine face

a pretty face

a handsome profit

a hefty profit

a lovely profit

a generous profit

a healthy profit

a tidy profit

a handsome book

an attractive book

a beautiful book

a gorgeous book

an elegant book

an exquisite book

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective handsome differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of handsome are beautiful, comely, fair, lovely, and pretty. While all these words mean "exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure," handsome suggests aesthetic pleasure due to proportion, symmetry, or elegance.

a handsome Georgian mansion

When is it sensible to use beautiful instead of handsome?

While the synonyms beautiful and handsome are close in meaning, beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses.

beautiful mountain scenery

How are the words comely and handsome related?

Comely is like handsome in suggesting what is coolly approved rather than emotionally responded to.

the comely grace of a dancer

When could fair be used to replace handsome?

The synonyms fair and handsome are sometimes interchangeable, but fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness.

fair of face

How do lovely and beautiful relate to one another, in the sense of handsome?

Lovely is close to beautiful but applies to a narrower range of emotional excitation in suggesting the graceful, delicate, or exquisite.

a lovely melody

When would pretty be a good substitute for handsome?

The words pretty and handsome can be used in similar contexts, but pretty often applies to superficial or insubstantial attractiveness.

a painter of conventionally pretty scenes

Examples of handsome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web North Carolina locations actually stand in for New England amid an accomplished overall tech and design package, one that’s topped by Larry Blanford’s handsome widescreen cinematography and Frederick Wiedmann’s big orchestral score. —

Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 Oct. 2024 In five years, the young, handsome Roman couturier (whose unused last name is Garavani) has come from a shaky beginning at 9 Via Condotti (some say the address is jinxed) where his early backers cast him adrift, to the crest of the Italian couture. —

Wwd Staff, WWD, 28 Sep. 2024 In their efforts to escape their woes, each end up meeting respective handsome locals in the forms of Julius (Samer Salem) and Henry (Daniel Garcia), who will spice up their visits. —

Breanne L. Heldman, People.com, 27 Sep. 2024 And simultaneously, surprisingly handsome and romantically charismatic. —

Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for handsome

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'handsome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.