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 Some rooms are reached by going up a handsome wooden staircase from the lobby and then taking it down to a garden-level floor. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026 But she was also consumed with her first crush, a tall, handsome boy named Nathan. Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026 After a bit of back-and-forth, one of the crew members grabbed a plastic bag and handed it to a tall, radiantly handsome Canadian actor named Marc. Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026 But having said that, there is also a tenable argument against the team handing him a handsome pay raise. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for handsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handsome
Adjective
  • Although Duchossois’ acquisition of Arlington Park in 1983 and his ownership of the luxurious track overshadowed his achievements as a breeder, his beautiful Hill ‘N Dale Farm near Barrington was a model breeding farm, as impressive as any of those in Kentucky.
    Neil Milbert, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • To some extent, the cool commercial logic of the fashion industry—which transforms beautiful, original works into cheaply reproducible goods, season after season—echoes that of Hollywood, which regularly cannibalizes and, yes, franchises its greatest successes.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Old stone walls and graceful arches frame olive and citrus groves and gum trees, while antique pieces gathered from European markets dot the corners.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants the Islamic Republic’s disintegration, whereas Trump, possibly satisfied with tactical success in Iran, may desire any graceful exit.
    Alexander Langlois, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Because sugar plantations were so large and enslaved populations were so preponderant, whites feared that any tumult would end with their heads on pikes.
    Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Disable my adblockerContinue without disabling Contact support|We're using DeVaux’s dream was realized in large part due to jockey Jose Ortiz, who defeated his own brother — who was on top of Renegade — for the win.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 3 May 2026
Adjective
  • Hotel workers take aim at Park Meanwhile, a different union is doing its own sizable spend.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
  • But not everyone has the money to make a sizable purchase.
    Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • Red varieties are highly attractive to hummingbirds, while butterflies and other pollinators also frequent the showy blooms.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
  • The document says Jones put in place attractive incentives so officers would retire before their terms were up.
    Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • Back in my rooms, I was brought a box of French macarons and a bottle of Greek tentura, a cinnamon liqueur produced in the city of Patras, another elegant presentation of new alongside old, international alongside local.
    Sarah Manguso, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
  • Plants flower spring through fall in elegant shades of purple, pink, blue, and white.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • The motion also argued that Chris Gerodemos was a present danger to extortion Victim #2 and his entire family, if released, and a substantial risk to threaten, injure, or intimidate a prospective witness.
    Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
  • The new era of college basketball, with unlimited transfers, players and their agents negotiating substantial salaries and big schools’ poaching of the best mid-major players – there’s no other way to put it – only increases the distance between the power schools and everyone else.
    Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • The case for and against a redo The obstacles to a redo are considerable, starting with the obvious security concerns.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
  • Given the complaint’s estimate that Temu is responsible for over 10,000 spam emails to Californians each year, the company encounters considerable potential liability in a state that is a primary battleground for digital privacy rights.
    Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 1 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Handsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handsome. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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