Cute vs. Handsome

Cute vs. Handsome — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Cute and Handsome

Cuteadjective

Possessing physical features, behaviors, personality traits or other properties that are mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals; e.g. fair, dainty, round, and soft physical features, disproportionately large eyes and head, playfulness, fragility, helplessness, curiosity or shyness, innocence, affectionate behavior.

Our reaction to cute attributes is understood as the way nature ensures mammals care for their young.

Handsomeadjective

(of people, things, etc) Having a good appearance; good-looking.

a handsome garment, house, tree, or horse

Cuteadjective

Generally, attractive or pleasing, especially in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way.

Let's go to the mall and look for cute girls.

Handsomeadjective

(of a man or boy) Visually attractive; pleasant looking, good-looking. Examples contradict label. Also, it seems to me that Austen uses "handsome" about women synonymously with "beautiful", so maybe that is an obsolete sense?

a handsome man

Cuteadjective

Affected or contrived to charm; mincingly clever; precious; cutesy.

The actor's performance was too cute for me. All that mugging to the audience killed the humor.Don't get cute with me, boy!

Handsomeadjective

(of a woman) Striking, impressive and elegantly proportioned, though not typically beautiful.

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Cuteadjective

Mentally keen or discerning (See also acute)

Cute trick, but can you do it consistently?

Handsomeadjective

Good, appealing, appropriate.

Cuteadjective

attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness;

a cute kid with pigtailsa cute little apartmentcunning kittensa cunning baby

Handsomeadjective

(of weather) Fine, clear and bright.

Cuteadjective

obviously contrived to charm;

an insufferably precious performancea child with intolerably cute mannerisms

Handsomeadjective

Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; appropriate.

a handsome style, etc.
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Handsomeadjective

Generous or noble in character.

Handsome is as handsome does.

Handsomeadjective

Ample; moderately large.

a handsome salary

Handsomeadjective

Dexterous; skillful.

Handsomeverb

To render handsome.

Handsomeadjective

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion;

a fine-looking womana good-looking manbetter-looking than her sistervery pretty but not so extraordinarily handsomeour southern women are well-favored

Handsomeadjective

given or giving freely;

was a big tipperthe bounteous goodness of Godbountiful complimentsa freehanded hosta handsome allowanceSaturday's child is loving and givinga liberal backer of the artsa munificent gifther fond and openhanded grandfather