Beautiful vs. Handsome: What's the Difference?
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on September 22, 2023
Beautiful generally describes a pleasing aesthetic that can apply to people, objects, and scenes, often with a focus on delicacy and elegance. Handsome often describes a strong, refined appearance, and is more commonly applied to men.
Key Differences
Beautiful is an adjective that describes something as aesthetically pleasing, eliciting a sense of admiration. It is often used to describe people, places, art, or moments. Handsome is also an adjective but is typically used to describe men or masculine features, and implies a sort of rugged, classic beauty.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Beautiful is a term often linked with softness, delicacy, and a sense of finesse. When someone describes a woman as beautiful, the focus may not only be on her physical features but also on a sense of grace or kindness that she exudes. Handsome, when used to describe a man, often connotes strength, confidence, and a polished appearance, but less often focuses on grace or delicacy.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Beautiful can also apply to landscapes, moments, or non-tangible things like ideas or experiences. For instance, a sunset or an act of kindness can be described as beautiful. Handsome is less versatile in this respect; it's rare to describe a sunset or an idea as handsome.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
The usage of Beautiful and Handsome can also be culturally and historically influenced. While Beautiful has a broader range of application across genders and objects, Handsome is more limited, generally applying to men and occasionally to women when speaking of a particular type of strong, non-delicate beauty.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Comparison Chart
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Beautiful and Handsome Definitions
Beautiful
Aesthetically pleasing to the senses
The painting is absolutely beautiful.
Harlon Moss
Sep 22, 2023
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Handsome
Exhibiting skill or excellence
It was a handsome piece of craftsmanship.
Sara Rehman
Sep 22, 2023
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Beautiful
Having qualities that delight or appeal to the senses and often the mind.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
Handsome
Pleasing in form or appearance, especially having strong or distinguished features
A handsome man.
A woman with a handsome face.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
Handsome
Having stately or attractive proportions or appearance; impressive
A handsome manor.
A sleek, handsome car.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
Handsome
Large in amount or measure; generous or considerable
A handsome reward.
Won by a handsome margin.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 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.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
Handsome
Marked by or requiring skill or dexterity
Did some handsome maneuvers on the skating rink.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
Beautiful
Good, admirable.
He was a beautiful person; he would drop everything to help you.
You've done a beautiful thing today.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
Beautiful
(of the weather) Pleasant; clear.
It's beautiful outside, let's go for a walk.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
Handsome
Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive, particularly
That is one handsome tree you've got there.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
Handsome
Attractively manly, having a pleasing face and overall effect.
I was tripping over his own feet coming in out of the surf.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 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!
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 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.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 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.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 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
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
Handsome
Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; appropriate.
A handsome style
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 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.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 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.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 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.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
Handsome
Evincing a becoming generosity or nobleness of character; liberal; generous.
Handsome is as handsome does.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
Handsome
Ample; moderately large.
He . . . accumulated a handsome sum of money.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 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
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 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
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 12, 2023
FAQs
Does beautiful imply delicacy?
Often, beautiful suggests a sense of elegance or grace.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Can beautiful describe things other than people?
Yes, beautiful can describe landscapes, art, and even ideas.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Does beautiful always refer to physical appearance?
No, beautiful can also describe emotional or intellectual qualities.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Can beautiful be used to describe men?
Yes, beautiful can describe men, although it is more commonly used for women.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Is handsome used for objects or scenery?
Rarely, handsome is most often used to describe people.
Harlon Moss
Sep 22, 2023
Is handsome used for women?
Less commonly, but it can describe a woman with a strong, refined appearance.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Can beautiful and handsome be used interchangeably?
Sometimes, but they carry different connotations and gender usages.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Can handsome describe a financial profit?
Yes, "a handsome profit" is a phrase that means a substantial gain.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Does handsome imply strength?
Yes, handsome often connotes strength or confidence.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Is beautiful a gender-neutral term?
Generally, beautiful is more neutral and can apply to any gender.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 22, 2023
Is handsome used in formal contexts?
Handsome is appropriate in both formal and informal settings.
Sara Rehman
Sep 22, 2023
Can beautiful describe actions?
Yes, actions like a "beautiful gesture" can be described as beautiful.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 22, 2023
Can beautiful describe sounds or music?
Yes, beautiful can describe harmonious or pleasing sounds.
Sara Rehman
Sep 22, 2023
Can handsome describe craftsmanship?
Yes, a well-made object can be called a "handsome piece of craftsmanship."
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Does handsome have historical connotations?
Yes, handsome often implies a classic, timeless sort of beauty.
Sara Rehman
Sep 22, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
