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

as in beautiful

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in graceful

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in large

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sizable

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Evelyn started working as a stewardess on ocean liners before meeting and falling in love with a handsome ship’s doctor, William Abel James. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 Just Douglas padding around in his socks, still as slim, handsome, and charming as ever. — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026 And yet, despite the handsome musical genius at its center, Gilroy’s film has a ground-level relatability. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026 The perfect cup of coffee with Kevin Costner After reading prior interviews Costner had done with other outlets, one thing felt surprising given the actor's tendency toward the ruggedly handsome, cowboy archetype. — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for handsome

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handsome

Adjective

Ben is a real talent and will craft a beautiful and compelling documentary.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Starting the fourth with beautiful field position, the Bruins needed three plays to score.

— Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of beautiful

Adjective

The owner of The Armoury, a four-unit men’s retailer with locations in New York and Hong Kong, has acquired his largest brand, named a new creative director and launched a second career as a pseudo real estate developer.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
The sink basins are large enough, however, the stopper (plug) at the sanitizer basin does not work and water continuously flows.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of large

Adjective

That competitiveness, along with California’s sizable cache of electoral votes, helped boost Reagan’s political standing nationally.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
According to Campbell, the new company comes with a sizeable capital injection and will acquire IP, develop original and adapted material, finance productions, and produce content for film, TV and other media platforms.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of sizable

Adjective

Cam, Aneha, Malaine Once again, a rizzless man is empowered to choose between two attractive women.

— Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
The recent volatility in the equity markets has created some potentially attractive opportunities for investors willing to look past near-term choppiness.

— Nick Wells, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of attractive

Adjective

Signs of this history were on display amid all the adventurous modern art that made Mandell’s home seem like an elegant, circus-like wonderland.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Her elegant primary bedroom boasted a dressing area that was the picture of ’40s-movie-star luxury, complete with plush rugs, dramatic arches, and, of course, plenty of mirrors.

— Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of elegant

Adjective

That said, the targeting software and operational testing still require substantial work.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
In addition, the distribution of that wealth is uneven as certain households own substantial property and investment portfolios while others don’t.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of substantial

Adjective

But the fee puts considerable professional access within reach of people financing their own ambitions.

— Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
In Japan, this has meant not only a great deal of collusion between yakuza gangs and law enforcement but also considerable overlap between crime and politics—especially, though not exclusively, right-wing politics.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of considerable

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hands-off

handsome

handsomely

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“Handsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handsome. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of handsome

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