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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

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 In Vienna, rubber ducks impersonating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and targeted at tourists fetched a handsome 14-euro price ($16.40) tag. Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 23 July 2025 To learn more about handsome Hank and our adoption process, please contact Our Companions at 860-242-9999 or email Helpline@OurCompanions.org. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2025 Peggy meets a handsome doctor from Newport whose family is less than enthusiastic about her career. Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025 Right now, a wide variety of styles are available for a fraction of their original price, like these preppy Sperry Top-Sider Men’s Gold Cup Boat Shoe Loafers, $65 off, that are suited for sun, sand, and surf, but are handsome enough to wear out to dinner. Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for handsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handsome
Adjective
  • Nicky Hilton Rothschild poses with some beautiful flowers at the Net-a-Porter & Mr Porter Summer in the Hamptons Cocktail Party in Sagaponack, N.Y. on July 17.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 21 July 2025
  • So whether your interest involves creating beautiful spaces, improving people's health, or something completely different, there's no reason not to explore its business potential.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • The maxi gown featured a relaxed turtleneck, a bold red lily print and graceful draping down the length of her body.
    Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 21 July 2025
  • With sculpted foliage and large, graceful blooms, Japanese anemones make a lovely tall groundcover or masing in mixed borders.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • The vehicle crashed through a block wall and left a large hole in the side of the building, according to Lee and photos from the scene.
    Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 29 July 2025
  • The company also sold off the Iams pet food business; its Duracell battery business and spun off a large portfolio of more than 40 beauty brands, including Clairol and Wella hair coloring and CoverGirl makeup.
    Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 29 July 2025
Adjective
  • Trump’s executive order could have a sizable impact in Texas, which has more commercial truck drivers than any other state in the Union due to its outsized role in U.S.-Mexico trade.
    Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • However, there are multiple risks and there remains a real possibility that the stock could see a sizable correction.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Adjective
  • Research analyzing millions of profiles reveals that both men and women often pursue partners who are estimated to be about 25% more attractive than themselves, despite these advances yielding fewer responses.
    Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Berkshire Hathaway is underperforming after Buffett's exit news, now trails the S&P 500 This is one of the most attractive opportunities for income, Vanguard says.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • Maybe, with its hidden codes often invisible to those who are not looking, cruising looks like an elegant method of resistance.
    Emily Witt, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
  • The King of Umbria Red Wines Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG is another wine for people who love elegant tannins and a richly fruity taste.
    Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • Driven by online forums and influencers, meme stock surges can result in significant gains for some investors while causing substantial losses for short sellers.
    Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025
  • The cost overruns are substantial but, on the positive side, our Country is doing very well and can afford just about anything — Even the cost of this building!
    Anna Commander Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • Harrison claims to feel considerable guilt at not intervening when she was clearly drugged and being targeted by a predator.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025
  • However, each of those victories comes with considerable caveats.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Handsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handsome. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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