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 The firm looks for the biggest problems facing human health, problems that could yield a handsome return on investment when solved. — Brittany Trang, STAT, 29 June 2026 As Washington, William Franklyn-Miller is tall, lean and model-handsome in a way that feels out of period. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 July 2026 Set the scene Set in a handsome Edwardian building off The Strand, One Aldywch is an arresting presence, not least because of the jutting angle of the front end of its facade (New York's Flatiron will spring to mind). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026 Comcast’s previous attempt to acquire Rupert Murdoch’s 20th Century Fox was foiled by Disney’s own master dealmaker, Bob Iger, who paid a handsome $71 billion in 2018. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for handsome

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handsome

Adjective

Their French 75, which is made with cognac, lemon and muscadet, is a perfect example thanks to a beautiful balance of elegance and ingenuity.

— Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
At the rear of the second floor is the primary suite, which has a large walk-in closet and another beautiful bathroom featuring a six-foot soaking tub with a custom glass surround.

— James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026

Definition of beautiful

Adjective

Their beauty also shapes traditional dance in Rwanda, with graceful movements performed by women who extend their arms to mimic the cows’ horns.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 June 2026
The graceful trailing stems and showy flowers of climbing hydrangeas (Hydrangea anomala) look beautiful growing on pergolas and fences.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 27 June 2026

Definition of graceful

Adjective

The Hyundai Motor Company used one of the world’s largest sporting stages to showcase its robotics ambitions.

— Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
A number of Russian regions have banned the use of large canisters that hold around five gallons to prevent fuel hoarding.

— Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

Definition of large

Adjective

The hard-right Vox party at one stage even reached out to Latinos, now a sizable voting bloc, assuming that Catholic, Evangelical, and anti-Communist members of those communities would share right-wing values.

— Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 2 July 2026
Other states with sizable contingents include West Virginia, Nebraska, Florida and Louisiana.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026

Definition of sizable

Adjective

On paper, Minnesota seems like an attractive destination for the 41-year-old.

— Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 1 July 2026
But Minetree cannot fix the inherent brokenness of a series determined to make its conventionally attractive, straight, rich white protagonist the most discriminated against kid in the cafeteria.

— Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Definition of attractive

Adjective

Trading commodities, futures, and options involves a substantial risk of loss.

— USA TODAY, USA Today, 7 July 2026
For smaller private colleges that are tuition dependent and lack substantial and accessible endowments, even a modest reduction in enrollment could prove calamitous.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of substantial

Adjective

The moves come as nostalgia continues to drive a considerable chunk of the music industry’s profits.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2026
Also expected to draw considerable interest are individual talks on how to co-produce with Italy, Canada, Spain, France, Chile, Mexico and Argentina, hosted by reps from each territory.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 6 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of handsome

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