1
as in elegance
dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style
a modern-style addition that detracts from the handsomeness of that neoclassic building
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in beauty
the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses
she never had noticed his handsomeness until he got a more becoming haircut
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 handsomeness
West happily said Lucas is not like Gaston at all in real life, apart from the handsomeness.
—
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Casting two of the most smoldering contemporary actors on the planet clearly stacks the deck, and carries on the long tradition of pairing a dashing figure of brooding handsomeness (Laurence Olivier, Ralph Fiennes) with a breathless screen beauty (Merle Oberon, Juliette Binoche).
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
Its unique exterior styling attracts attention, not from being gawdy or flashy but from bold handsomeness.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Both were a byword, too, for male beauty, fully alive to the almost laughable impact of their handsomeness, yet ill at ease, now and then, with their perches on the pedestal.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Caught Stealing showcases the first time in his adult career that Butler appears truly comfortable using his natural handsomeness and charisma to his advantage on screen.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
Stamp retained his looks as the years ticked by, his natural handsomeness hardened by a more grizzled look.
—Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Casting two of the most smoldering contemporary actors on the planet clearly stacks the deck, and carries on the long tradition of pairing a dashing figure of brooding handsomeness (Laurence Olivier, Ralph Fiennes) with a breathless screen beauty (Merle Oberon, Juliette Binoche).
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
Its unique exterior styling attracts attention, not from being gawdy or flashy but from bold handsomeness.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Both were a byword, too, for male beauty, fully alive to the almost laughable impact of their handsomeness, yet ill at ease, now and then, with their perches on the pedestal.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Caught Stealing showcases the first time in his adult career that Butler appears truly comfortable using his natural handsomeness and charisma to his advantage on screen.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
Stamp retained his looks as the years ticked by, his natural handsomeness hardened by a more grizzled look.
—Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handsomeness
Noun
-
There’s an elegance to the togetherness, and the loss of individuality is something extraordinarily powerful and beautiful.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Kenrick’s design strikes a balance between modern elegance and Alpine warmth.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With more than ninety works, the galleries are thronged with beauties, many of whom refuse to be pinned down to a gender.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
And a prior production at Court Theatre made much more of the beauty of the changing of campus seasons, one of the ways Auburn gets at the nourishing pleasures of an academic life.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The majesty of the natural world and the incomprehensible vastness of space are almost infinitely rearrangeable variables for documentarians.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The design captures the majesty and beauty of its origin.—
Lisa Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Clavicular, whose real name is Braden Peters, is widely viewed as a leading figure in the looksmaxxing community, an online movement of young men pursuing methods to maximize their physical attractiveness.—
Ryan Brennan
April 15,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Research conducted by travel insurer InsureandGo found that the scenic railway had the highest attractiveness score across two key measures.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her stage presence, fashion and gracefulness all stood out, said Billy Mitchell, the Apollo's in-house historian.—
Noelle Lilley,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Ca$ino, which feels like a difficult yet necessary transition out of The Melodic Blue and lacks that album’s easy gracefulness, may not yield an immediate answer.—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handsomeness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handsomeness. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
