Definition of handsomenext
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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

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 handsome Particularly handsome men who were kind – or appeared so, anyway. Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026 To accept her knighthood, Victoria wore a black long-sleeve dress of her own design, while David wore a handsome charcoal double-breasted suit. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026 Wheeler was slight but handsome, with thinning blond hair fading to gray, a year-round tan, and a pair of penetrating, electric-blue eyes. Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 Where Wilson and Fischer really deepen Wills-Jones’ tale is in the private moments between the fisherwoman and her wicker husband, who awaits her at the altar in a handsome new suit and shoes borrowed from her neighbors — the tailor (Nabhaan Rizwan), shoemaker (Scott Alexander Yougng) and so on. Peter Debruge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for handsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handsome
Adjective
  • Monticello is stunningly beautiful.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
  • For those who aren’t aware of the background, Bertone is a legendary Italian auto design house famous for cars like the beautiful Alfa GTV (1963–77) and the bedroom-poster favorite, the Lamborghini Countach of 1974.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The curved edges add a graceful touch, and the arch support is a nice bonus.
    Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
  • More compact than other Japanese plum yews, layers of gently arching branches lend Yewtopia® a graceful, vase-like form.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Japan is considered one of Asia’s top snow sports destinations due to its powder snow, which attracts a large number of foreign tourists each winter.
    Chris Lau, CNN Money, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Unlike traditional high-bypass turbofan engines, open-fan designs feature exposed fan blades, allowing for larger diameters with lower aerodynamic drag.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • That presently appears to be a sizable challenge; the Padres lost several key players in free agency, and their only notable acquisitions have been the return of starting pitcher Michael King and the addition of infielder Sung-Mun Song.
    Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Nearly 350,000 Haitians are set to lose their TPS this week, and a sizeable share of them care for older Americans.
    Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Neighborhoods are becoming much more attractive due to winter blossoms from pink tabebuia trees.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
  • On the other hand, this contrast with prior Fed picks could make Rieder even more attractive to Trump, who is not shy about busting norms.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • When paired with the right boots, leggings can even rise to the level of elegant occasion wear.
    Amber Rambharose, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
  • According to interior designers, these four countertop colors are their go-tos for creating modern yet classic spaces that feel elegant and livable.
    Cori Sears, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Yet these shady financing deals can leave survivors owing substantial fees and interest, sometimes consuming a significant portion of any eventual award.
    Jaime Huff, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Throughout the show – which launched with a DJ set by longtime Carey friend and producer Jermaine Dupri – Carey’s admirers dug into her substantial catalog with gusto.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • By the time it was released there had already been early reviews and considerable buzz.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
  • As of press time, prices are hovering around $4,400 per ounce, about double the price just two years ago, drawing the attention of criminal groups looking to abuse the land and the local people for considerable profit.
    Jill Newman, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Handsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handsome. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

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