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View synonyms for handsome

handsome

[ han-suhm ]

adjective

, hand·som·er, hand·som·est.
  1. having an attractive, well-proportioned, and imposing appearance suggestive of health and strength; good-looking:

    a handsome man;

    a handsome woman.

    Antonyms: ugly

  2. having pleasing proportions, relationships, or arrangements, as of shapes, forms, or colors; attractive:

    a handsome house;

    a handsome interior.

  3. considerable, ample, or liberal in amount:

    a handsome fortune.

    Synonyms: munificent, generous, large

    Antonyms: scanty, scant, skimpy, meager

  4. a handsome compliment;

    a handsome recommendation.

    Antonyms: miserly, stingy, ungenerous

  5. adroit and appealing; graceful:

    a handsome speech.



handsome

/ ˈhændsəm /

adjective

  1. (of a man) good-looking, esp in having regular, pleasing, and well-defined features
  2. (of a woman) fine-looking in a dignified way
  3. well-proportioned, stately, or comely

    a handsome room

  4. liberal or ample

    a handsome allowance

  5. gracious or generous

    a handsome action

  6. pleasant

    handsome weather



noun

  1. a term of endearment for a beloved person, esp in my handsome

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Derived Forms

  • ˈhandsomeness, noun
  • ˈhandsomely, adverb

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Other Words From

  • handsome·ish adjective
  • handsome·ness noun
  • super·handsome adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of handsome1

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English hondsom, handsum “easy to control, handy”; cognate with West Frisian hānsum “easy to control, convenient,” Dutch handzaam “easy to manage”; hand, -some 1

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Word History and Origins

Origin of handsome1

C15: handsom easily handled; compare Dutch handzaam; see hand , -some 1

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Example Sentences

He is, of course, incredibly handsome, and also Irish, traits that go a long way toward attaining “object of desire” status no matter what.

From Vox

Carrie claims to be a simple gal despite, at one point, owning $40,000 worth of shoes and thriving on drama, and that’s how she ended up with emotionally unavailable, debatably handsome, wealthy Big, who thinks he can cook.

We were kicking around ideas about what happens to the geeks when John Daley gets tall and incredibly handsome, and suddenly the popular kids want to hang out with him more.

The restaurant comes to the rescue with handsome wraps for a mere $12.

On that night, I met this kind, handsome, southern gentleman who would love me like I’ve never been loved.

I think everybody would like to be handsome and good at karate.

The handsome Alexander Gilkes is one of the best-connected tastemakers on the art scene.

Mark Reay is a handsome model-turned-photographer who is homeless, living in a secret ‘nest’ on top of an apartment building.

Creator Takeuchi has described the handsome, older (than Sailor Moon) boy as her favorite character in the series.

Why aren't you as handsome and/or Canadian as Justin Bieber?

In such conditions many kinds which do not flourish very freely in the open garden, grow into handsome specimens.

Of course, most specimens are probably taken up in the summer when the handsome foliage attracts the eye.

I heard her say to one of the servants once that my father had been lost on a yacht, and that he was oh, ever such a handsome man.

This is certainly handsome, and I acknowledge the courtesy, though I shall not accept the invitation.

At the age of forty-five Monte Irvin was not ill-looking, and, indeed, was sometimes spoken of as handsome.

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When To Use

What are other ways to say handsome?

Someone who is handsome is attractive with a well-proportioned appearance that is suggestive of health and strength. How does handsome compare with lovely, beautiful, and pretty? Learn more on Thesaurus.com

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hands-offhandsome is as handsome does