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

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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 That is, until a handsome stranger who introduces himself as Richard (Finn Wittrock) shows up and quite literally talks her off the ledge. —

Megan McCluskey, TIME, 25 Oct. 2024 Ron Ely, the hunky and handsome Texas native who portrayed the Lord of the Jungle on the first Tarzan series for television, has died, his daughter Kirsten told Fox News Digital. —

Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024 This handcrafted Eames chair would look handsome on top of any coffee table or as an unconventional bookend. —

Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 1 Nov. 2024 An ability to look devastatingly handsome in flannel. —

Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for handsome

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handsome

Adjective

Such is the world in which Amy Berryman’s intelligent and compassionate climate-disaster drama — named for Thoreau’s treatise (though not, as the title might suggest, an adaptation of it) and now receiving its New York premiere under Whitney White’s graceful direction at Second Stage — takes place.

Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
By all accounts and appearances, Wade is just as graceful off the court.

Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024