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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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 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 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 While the original Nosferatu is actually an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the ghoulish Count Orlok is quite different from Count Dracula’s charming, handsome nobleman. —

Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 With a terrific performance by Sam Riley in the title role, this handsome production — with no end of first-rate terpsichorean performance onscreen — should reignite interest in a figure whose rising international stature got curtailed by his abrupt demise in 1973, at age 45. —

Dennis Harvey, Variety, 9 Jan. 2025 Boz goes on a date with her very handsome long-distance boyfriend, Keely. —

Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025 The heavy makeup that transformed the impossibly handsome Farrell into the scarred and pock-marked Cobb required a lot of hard work and artistry from makeup designer Michael Marino, who spoke about his process during The Penguin’s panel at San Diego Comic Con back in July. —

Christian Holub, EW.com, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for handsome

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handsome

Adjective

The graceful pelicans would soar, and sandpipers would drill for sand crabs.

— James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
This compact variety produces a graceful, rounded two-foot mound and grows well in winter containers in USDA zones 8 to 10.

— Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025