The most useful handsome synonym for a person is good-looking, but you can be far more precise. Striking means looks that stop you, dashing adds charm and confidence, dapper praises neat clothes, and rugged suits an outdoorsy, strong face.
Handsome also describes buildings, horses and furniture, and in money talk it means large, as in a handsome profit. Each handsome alternative below is tagged by sense, from a casual text to a formal toast.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
good-looking, attractive, striking, dashingPart of speech
AdjectiveMost formal
distinguished, debonair, statelyMost casual
hot, cute, easy on the eyesStrongest
gorgeous, stunningAntonyms
unattractive, plain, homelyWatch out
A handsome woman usually means strong, dignified looks, not pretty. Some people hear it as a backhanded compliment.Other senses
a handsome house, a handsome sum
Handsome synonym list by sense
| Sense | Words | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Good-looking person | good-looking, attractive, striking, rugged | Her brother is very good-looking. |
| Charm and style | dashing, dapper, debonair, suave | He looked dapper in the gray suit. |
| Dignified looks | distinguished, stately, noble | A distinguished man with silver hair. |
| Fine objects | elegant, well-made, grand | An elegant oak desk. |
| Money or reward | generous, substantial, sizable | She sold the apartment for a sizable profit. |
How strong is the compliment?
The chips move from mild to strong. Nice-looking is polite and a little cool. Good-looking is the standard warm compliment. Attractive sounds slightly more adult and works in writing. Striking means people notice right away, and gorgeous sits at the far strong end; see gorgeous synonyms for its own shades.
Hot and cute sit outside the scale. They are casual, and hot adds a clear romantic tone, so keep them for friends and partners.
Looks, style and the whole package
Handsome is mostly about the face and build. Several near synonyms praise something else as well. Dapper and sharp praise clothes and grooming. Suave and debonair add smooth, confident manners, and suave can hint at being a bit too smooth. Dashing mixes looks with energy, like someone who just rode in on a horse.
For praise of the whole person, pair a looks word with a character word: "dapper and kind", "rugged but gentle". It sounds sincere and less like a rating.
Swaps in captions, cards and stories
- My handsome husband becomes my dashing husband on an anniversary card.
- A handsome young actor becomes a striking young actor in a review.
- He looked handsome at the wedding becomes he looked sharp at the wedding.
- A handsome old farmhouse becomes a stately old farmhouse.
- A handsome reward becomes a generous reward.
- Grandpa is still handsome becomes Grandpa is still distinguished.
A friend posts a graduation photo. "Looking handsome" is fine, but "Looking sharp, the suit is perfect" praises a choice he made, which often lands better than a comment on his face.
The money sense: a handsome sum
When handsome describes an amount, it means large and pleasing. Swap it for generous, substantial, sizable or considerable. Healthy and tidy are friendly options: a healthy margin, a tidy sum. Lucrative describes the deal or job, not the amount itself, so say a lucrative contract, not a lucrative sum.
A handsome win in sport means a big, clear win. Try comfortable or convincing.
Antonyms of handsome
For looks, plain is the gentlest opposite and unattractive is neutral. Homely means plain in US English but cozy in British English, so it can confuse. Ugly is blunt and usually unkind about a person. For amounts, use meager, paltry or measly.
- The pay raise was meager.
- The room was plain but clean.
Next, try beautiful synonyms, or open the describing words collection for words that describe faces and figures.
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for handsome?
Good-looking and attractive are the most common. Striking, dashing and dapper add detail about why someone looks good.
Can you call a woman handsome?
Yes, but it usually means strong, dignified features rather than prettiness. Many women prefer beautiful, lovely or striking, so pick with care.
Which handsome synonym sounds refined?
Debonair and distinguished sound refined. Debonair stresses charm and style, while distinguished suits an older, dignified person.
What is a cute way to call a boy handsome?
Cute, adorable and sweet work for a young child. For a teen or adult, good-looking or sharp sounds more natural.
What does a handsome amount mean?
It means a large, satisfying amount of money. Generous, substantial and sizable can all stand in for it.
Can you list antonyms of handsome?
Unattractive and plain are the polite antonyms. For money, the opposite is meager or paltry.