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

as in handsome

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The translator need only find the right verbal stones and install them in comely sentences, in cadences that mirror the author’s own, and Mishima’s voice will emerge. — Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024 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 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

But many of the film’s most evocative images, often involving groups of soldiers, handsome and glistening and in varying stages of undress, remain just that — images without a strong connection to the larger storytelling.

— Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
But not before Elinor has fallen in love with Edward Ferrars (George MacKay), Fanny’s handsome and upstanding brother, during a family visit.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of handsome

Adjective

Cam, Aneha, Malaine Once again, a rizzless man is empowered to choose between two attractive women.

— Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
The recent volatility in the equity markets has created some potentially attractive opportunities for investors willing to look past near-term choppiness.

— Nick Wells, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of attractive

Adjective

The Panthers set up 48 yards from pay dirt and then, a handful of plays later, Young placed a beautiful pass into the hands of a wide-open Tommy Tremble for a touchdown — and also placed the nail in the game’s proverbial coffin.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026
About half of Faux’s dining room, on my visits, seemed to be occupied by the young and beautiful, perhaps strategizing, over moules bouillabaisse, when to move the party to the bar downstairs.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of beautiful

Adjective

Amenities and experiences The alfresco pool is lovely, but ongoing construction in the area at the moment is a bit of an eyesore.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026
Maybe the two can take the nips out on a lovely date to the Wicker 4DX screenings later this month.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lovely

Adjective

At most, the emissions of plasma crashing into our atmosphere might paint the sky in pretty shades of green or pink.

— Mike McRae October 15, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
This gift set, designed in collaboration with Brooklyn illustrator Phthalo Ruth, comes in watercolor plaid boxes that are almost too pretty to open.

— Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretty

Adjective

The setting for this multi-generational frolic is a gorgeous Greek island that is nothing like ABBA’s homeland of Sweden.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
The interior is spacious and light-filled with floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides and a gorgeous double-sink bathroom that feels like a mini spa.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of gorgeous

Adjective

While renting a charming Mediterranean Revival-style villa in the Hollywood Hills, the FBI tapped her phone lines and the CIA covertly intercepted and opened her mail.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2026
The author behind the singular Elizabeth Zott returns with ‘Peck & Peck,’ a sharp, charming satire on the pretensions and perils of literary gatekeepers.

— Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of charming

Browse Nearby Words

comeliness

comely

come off

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Comely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comely. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of comely

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes