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Definition of comelynext

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 Chin picks up a slide in comely tones of gray, brown, and off-white. Karen Wright, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 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 See All Example Sentences for comely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comely
Adjective
  • Her husband, Laurent (Arnaud Binard), has shown up unexpectedly in Rome to find his wife in the arms of handsome Italian film director Giancarlo (Raoul Bova).
    Sam Reed, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Outlander is based on Diana Gabaldon's best-selling book series of the same name about the epic love story between an English World War II nurse who travels back in time to 18th-century Scotland and meets a handsome Highlander.
    Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • To make sure there’s sufficient demand among bond investors, Treasury yields must remain attractive relative to the competition.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Home to the world’s largest oil reserves, the country is an attractive long-term opportunity for Big Oil, but companies are cautious about investing in the short term due to uncertainty around security and the rule of law.
    Bloomberg, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • His son is in the beginning, messy, beautiful process of becoming.
    Mirin Fader, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • There’s also a lot going on in the personal lives of the folks at 51, the biggest being Boden’s wedding, which — despite a glitch with Herrmann’s offer to hold the event at his church — winds up being a beautiful affair.
    Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • At night, reach for a latte loaded with adaptogens, passionflower and hops (an herbal sleep blend), and magnesium glycinate, ideal for longer, lovelier rest.
    Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Jeannine’s Jeannine’s is a longtime Santa Barbara favorite, and the At the Shore location features a lovely menu and a charming outdoor patio that feels more like a European cafe than a California brunch spot.
    Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Ariana Grande made a cute face while taking a pic with Steven Spielberg.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Jump on the trend early with this cute, hands-free Michael Kors crossbody bag.
    Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • These come in a pretty off-white champagne color, along with a cool purple, chocolate brown, and greige (grayish beige).
    Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Furniture needs to do more than look pretty to earn its keep.
    Heather Bien, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Blue-green foliage and a columnar habit make for a gorgeous specimen in tight spaces.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
  • More than 70 years later, White Christmas still looks gorgeous, positively popping with berry reds, snowy whites, and minty greens.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The allure of their relationship is undeniable, but charming as their chemistry is, something is definitely off.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
  • For a quintessential small-town Vermont experience, stay at the charming Mad River Barn right around the corner.
    Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Comely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comely. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on comely

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