Synonym Chooser

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 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 The comely stars, who are excellent at trolling each other online, are already parents to daughters James, 4, and Inez, 2. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2019 Furthermore, the plant is topped by comely flowers, which in time proudly adorned the button-holes of no less than Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, in their day intentionally marketing the potato to a then-skeptical proletariat. Bill St. John, The Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2019 See All Example Sentences for comely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comely
Adjective
  • The case coincides with suspicious activity occurring near the border where Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) — who used to work for the Navajo Tribal Police with Chee and Leaphorn and had a relationship with Chee — now gets drawn to cocky and handsome border agent Ivan Muños (Alex Meraz).
    Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Casting is an expensive multistep process, though, and the same factories can furnish façades for new construction by the more straightforward technique of extrusion, yielding handsome but less ornate panels.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The potential for cuts in Medicaid, the joint federal-state program that helps lower income people obtain health care, is a particularly attractive target for Democrats.
    David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2025
  • And Malik Nabers is an attractive No. 1 receiver target.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Vanderbilt University's sprawling 340-acre campus ranks among the most beautiful college footprints in the country, according to a new review from Condé Nast Traveler.
    Adam Tamburin, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The moment of Matt seeing Elektra outlined in the rain with his special senses is nothing short of beautiful.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Within its pages is a lovely story of the neverending struggle between security and new technology that provides a useful backdrop to current events: in particular, the Chinese hacking of the American telecommunications infrastructure.
    David G.W. Birch, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The set features a lovely pattern of yellow and teal flowers with deep sage green leaves and detailing around the edge.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In December 2024, the brand opened a cute hut that could have been plucked out of a Disney cartoon on the beach of the St. Regis Kanai Resort in Riviera Maya.
    Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Okay, but how cute is Meghan’s dog, Guy? Love him!!!!
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Here was a pretty face with pure American muscle lurking beneath.
    Josh Max, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Lieberman’s version of the song, produced by Gimbel and Fox and arranged and conducted by Fox, is pretty, but rather bland.
    Paul Grein, Billboard, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Plan your next gourmet meal with this cast iron Dutch oven from Martha Stewart’s gorgeous line of kitchenware.
    Isabel Garcia, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The 10-track album is full of gorgeous harmonies and fun, saucy funk (check the title track) that will absolutely inspire some ass-shaking, but which also feels mature and deeply considered.
    Katie Bain, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Upon entering the beautiful little hôtel particulier, guests were greeted by a striking cherry-red carpet covering the charming cobblestone, welcoming fashion’s elite into a series of rooms showcasing the brand’s new collection.
    Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Locals prefer to roll through town on golf carts, the most charming quality of many of America’s beach towns and islands.
    Mariah Tyler, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Comely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comely. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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