COMELY Synonyms: 135 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'comely' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of comely are beautiful , fair , handsome , lovely , and pretty . While all these words mean "exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure," comely is like handsome in suggesting what is coolly approved rather than emotionally responded to. // the comely grace of a dancer

Q: When is it sensible to use 'beautiful' instead of 'comely'?

The words beautiful and comely can be used in similar contexts, but beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses. // beautiful mountain scenery

Q: When would 'fair' be a good substitute for 'comely'?

Although the words fair and comely have much in common, fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness. // fair of face

Q: When might 'handsome' be a better fit than 'comely'?

In some situations, the words handsome and comely are roughly equivalent. However, handsome suggests aesthetic pleasure due to proportion, symmetry, or elegance. // a handsome Georgian mansion

Q: How do 'lovely' and 'beautiful' relate to one another, in the sense of 'comely'?

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: Where would 'pretty' be a reasonable alternative to 'comely'?

The meanings of pretty and comely largely overlap; however, pretty often applies to superficial or insubstantial attractiveness. // a painter of conventionally pretty scenes

comely

adjective

ˈkəm-lē

Definition of comely next

as in handsome

very pleasing to look at a brood of comely children that any parent would be proud to claim

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How does the adjective comely differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of comely are beautiful, fair, handsome, lovely, and pretty. While all these words mean "exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure," comely is like handsome in suggesting what is coolly approved rather than emotionally responded to.

the comely grace of a dancer

When is it sensible to use beautiful instead of comely?

The words beautiful and comely can be used in similar contexts, but beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses.

beautiful mountain scenery

When would fair be a good substitute for comely?

Although the words fair and comely have much in common, fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness.

fair of face

When might handsome be a better fit than comely?

In some situations, the words handsome and comely are roughly equivalent. However, handsome suggests aesthetic pleasure due to proportion, symmetry, or elegance.

a handsome Georgian mansion

How do lovely and beautiful relate to one another, in the sense of comely?

Lovely is close to beautiful but applies to a narrower range of emotional excitation in suggesting the graceful, delicate, or exquisite.

a lovely melody

Where would pretty be a reasonable alternative to comely?

The meanings of pretty and comely largely overlap; however, 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 comely Here is the story of a comely girl, a mulatto, Margaret Toogood, Maggy. —

Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023 Instead, his big conversion comes later, after Rafael takes a fist to the face for dancing with a local tough guy’s comely fiancée. —

Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Aug. 2023 Connecticut-raised Troy’s debut novel, Floating, imagines a dinky, dusty town in Arizona where its comely protagonist, Ruby, falls in love with her husband’s estranged, cowboy brother. —

Hazlitt, 4 May 2022 Chin picks up a slide in comely tones of gray, brown, and off-white. —

Karen Wright, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 See All Example Sentences for comely

Recent Examples of Synonyms for comely

Adjective

Waterfield was a handsome idol returning home with a championship to a movie star wife, in the golden age of Hollywood.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
The Paper Plane is like a whiskey and orange juice that grew up handsome, and for whom everything is going right.

— Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2026

Definition of handsome

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comeliness

comely

come off

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“Comely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comely. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 15 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of comely

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