Beautiful vs. Handsome: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Beautiful often describes aesthetic appeal and grace in a general sense, while handsome typically refers to attractive, dignified appearance, often in men.
Key Differences
Beautiful is a term used to describe aesthetic appeal that is pleasing and harmonious, often associated with elegance and grace. Handsome, traditionally used to describe men, connotes an attractive and often strong or distinguished appearance.
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Dec 05, 2023
While beautiful can be applied to a wide range of subjects including nature, art, and people, handsome is more commonly used to refer specifically to the pleasing appearance of men, often implying a certain stateliness or formality.
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Dec 05, 2023
In its usage, beautiful tends to emphasize a more delicate, refined, or exquisite quality. Handsome, on the other hand, often suggests a bold, pronounced, or impressive form of attractiveness.
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Dec 05, 2023
Beautiful can also convey a deeper, inner quality beyond physical appearance, like a beautiful soul or a beautiful act of kindness. Handsome, while primarily physical, can also imply a kind of noble or admirable quality in character.
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Dec 05, 2023
The use of beautiful in describing landscapes or objects can evoke a sense of awe or wonder, whereas handsome, when used in similar contexts, often refers to a more robust or strikingly impressive quality.
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Dec 05, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Usage
Broad, for aesthetic appeal in general
Primarily for men's attractive appearance
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Dec 05, 2023
Application
Nature, art, people, inner qualities
Men, sometimes objects or landscapes
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Dec 05, 2023
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Beautiful and Handsome Definitions
Beautiful
Graceful, Elegant
The dancer's beautiful performance was applauded.
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Dec 05, 2023
Handsome
Attractive Appearance in Men
He looked handsome in his tailored suit.
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Dec 05, 2023
Beautiful
Inspiring Awe or Wonder
The beautiful landscape was a painter's dream.
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Dec 05, 2023
Beautiful
Exquisite, Delicate
Her beautiful singing voice captivated the audience.
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Dec 05, 2023
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Beautiful
Having qualities that delight or appeal to the senses and often the mind.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Pleasing in form or appearance, especially having strong or distinguished features
A handsome man.
A woman with a handsome face.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Having stately or attractive proportions or appearance; impressive
A handsome manor.
A sleek, handsome car.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Large in amount or measure; generous or considerable
A handsome reward.
Won by a handsome margin.
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Oct 19, 2023
Beautiful
Attractive and possessing beauty.
Anyone who has ever met her thought she was absolutely beautiful.
There's a beautiful lake by the town.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Marked by or requiring skill or dexterity
Did some handsome maneuvers on the skating rink.
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Oct 19, 2023
Beautiful
Good, admirable.
He was a beautiful person; he would drop everything to help you.
You've done a beautiful thing today.
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Oct 19, 2023
Beautiful
(of the weather) Pleasant; clear.
It's beautiful outside, let's go for a walk.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive, particularly
That is one handsome tree you've got there.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Attractively manly, having a pleasing face and overall effect.
I was tripping over his own feet coming in out of the surf.
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Oct 19, 2023
Beautiful
Someone who is beautiful. Can be used as a term of address.
The man was faithful to his wife, ignoring the many blonde beautifuls who surrounded him wherever he went.
Hey, beautiful!
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Statuesque, beautiful in a masculine or otherwise imposing way.
She was either handsome or her uniform created a flattering effect but—being very nearsighted—he couldn't tell from this distance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Beautiful
Having the qualities which constitute beauty; pleasing to the sight or the mind.
A circle is more beautiful than a square; a square is more beautiful than a parallelogram.
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Oct 19, 2023
Beautiful
Delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration;
A beautiful child
Beautiful country
A beautiful painting
A beautiful theory
A beautiful party
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; appropriate.
A handsome style
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Dexterous; skillful; handy; ready; convenient; - applied to things as persons.
That they [engines of war] be both easy to be carried and handsome to be moved and turned about.
For a thief it is so handsome as it may seem it was first invented for him.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Agreeable to the eye or to correct taste; having a pleasing appearance or expression; attractive; having symmetry and dignity; comely; - expressing more than pretty, and less than beautiful; as, a handsome man or woman; a handsome garment, house, tree, horse.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; graceful; becoming; appropriate; as, a handsome style, etc.
Easiness and handsome address in writing.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Evincing a becoming generosity or nobleness of character; liberal; generous.
Handsome is as handsome does.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Ample; moderately large.
He . . . accumulated a handsome sum of money.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion;
A fine-looking woman
A good-looking man
Better-looking than her sister
Very pretty but not so extraordinarily handsome
Our southern women are well-favored
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Oct 19, 2023
Handsome
Given or giving freely;
Was a big tipper
The bounteous goodness of God
Bountiful compliments
A freehanded host
A handsome allowance
Saturday's child is loving and giving
A liberal backer of the arts
A munificent gift
Her fond and openhanded grandfather
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can 'beautiful' be used for men?
Yes, men can be described as beautiful, particularly when emphasizing grace or aesthetic appeal.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Does 'beautiful' imply fragility?
Not necessarily; beautiful can imply delicacy but also encompasses strength and depth.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can landscapes be called handsome?
Yes, landscapes can be described as handsome, especially when they have a striking, robust quality.
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Dec 05, 2023
Is 'handsome' appropriate for women?
Less commonly, but handsome can be used for women, often highlighting a strong, dignified appearance.
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Dec 05, 2023
Is 'beautiful' used more universally than 'handsome'?
Beautiful is more universally applicable across various contexts than handsome.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can objects be described as handsome?
Yes, objects like cars or buildings can be called handsome, implying a robust or impressive appearance.
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Dec 05, 2023
Is 'beautiful' more emotional than 'handsome'?
Beautiful often conveys a deeper emotional resonance, while handsome is more focused on physical or outward qualities.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can 'handsome' imply wealth or success?
Handsome can imply a sense of success or substance, like a 'handsome profit'.
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Dec 05, 2023
Is 'beautiful' linked to nature?
Beautiful is frequently used to describe natural phenomena, emphasizing their aesthetic appeal.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can you use "beautiful" for men?
Yes, "beautiful" can be used for men, but "handsome" is more common.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can 'handsome' refer to non-physical traits?
Occasionally, handsome can describe non-physical attributes like actions or deeds, implying nobility or generosity.
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Dec 05, 2023
What are some synonyms for "handsome"?
Synonyms include "attractive," "dashing," "charming," and more.
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Dec 05, 2023
Does 'beautiful' have cultural variations?
Yes, perceptions of beauty can vary greatly across different cultures.
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Dec 05, 2023
Are there synonyms for "beautiful"?
Yes, synonyms include "attractive," "stunning," "lovely," and more.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can 'handsome' suggest formality?
Yes, handsome often conveys a sense of formality or stateliness.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Is "beautiful" a compliment?
Yes, calling someone or something "beautiful" is a compliment.
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Dec 05, 2023
What's the opposite of "beautiful"?
The opposite can be "ugly," "unattractive," or "plain."
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Dec 05, 2023
Can "handsome" describe personality traits?
No, it typically relates to physical appearance.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Can you use "beautiful" to describe a person's character?
Yes, it can describe someone's inner qualities and kindness.
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Dec 05, 2023
What's the opposite of "handsome" for men?
The opposite might be "unattractive" or "plain" for men's physical appearance.
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Dec 05, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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