Handsome vs. Pretty — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
Handsome often describes a strong, masculine beauty, while pretty refers to a delicate, feminine attractiveness.
Difference Between Handsome and Pretty
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Handsome traditionally pertains to a form of attractiveness often associated with masculinity, while pretty is commonly used to describe a softer, delicate, or feminine form of beauty.
When one describes a man as handsome, it frequently implies a strong, distinguished form of beauty, while labeling someone pretty typically suggests a more gentle, pleasing aesthetic.
The word handsome can also be utilized to portray various non-physical attributes, like deeds or amounts, while pretty isn't employed similarly in standard usage.
Handsome can sometimes be used to describe women when highlighting a certain dignified, striking beauty, whereas pretty is rarely used to describe men, aligning more with traditional feminine connotations.
Both handsome and pretty can be subjective and context-dependent, sometimes being utilized interchangeably, despite their differing traditional connotations.
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Comparison Chart
Traditional Gender Association
Often associated with men
Usually associated with women
Type of Beauty
Strong, dignified
Delicate, pleasing
Application to Non-Physical Attributes
Can describe deeds or amounts (e.g., a handsome sum)
Rarely used for non-physical attributes
Common Usage
May describe both men and women
Predominantly describes women or objects
Underlying Connotation
May imply sophistication
Often implies sweetness
Compare with Definitions
Handsome
Having an attractive, well-proportioned, and imposing appearance.
The actor was considered very handsome.
Pretty
Pleasing by delicacy or grace.
The painting depicted a pretty landscape.
Handsome
Marked by skill or cleverness.
It was a handsome maneuver on the soccer field.
Pretty
(of a person, especially a woman or child) attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful
A pretty little girl with an engaging grin
Handsome
Generous or noble in behavior or actions.
He gave a handsome donation to the charity.
Pretty
Used ironically to express annoyance or displeasure
He led me a pretty dance
Handsome
Strikingly impressive especially in beauty or excellence.
She wore a handsome gown to the event.
Pretty
To a moderately high degree; fairly
He looked pretty fit for his age
It was a pretty bad injury
Handsome
Pleasing in form or appearance, especially having strong or distinguished features
A handsome man.
A woman with a handsome face.
Pretty
An attractive thing, especially a trinket
He buys her lots of pretties—bangles and rings
Handsome
Having stately or attractive proportions or appearance; impressive
A handsome manor.
A sleek, handsome car.
Pretty
Make pretty or attractive
She'll be all prettied up and ready to go in an hour
Handsome
Large in amount or measure; generous or considerable
A handsome reward.
Won by a handsome margin.
Pretty
Pleasing or attractive in a graceful or delicate way.
Handsome
Marked by or requiring skill or dexterity
Did some handsome maneuvers on the skating rink.
Pretty
Clever; adroit
A pretty maneuver.
Handsome
Appropriate or fitting
A handsome location for the new school.
Pretty
Very bad; terrible
In a pretty predicament.
A situation that has reached a pretty pass.
Handsome
Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive, particularly
That is one handsome tree you've got there.
Pretty
Ostensibly or superficially attractive but lacking substance or conviction
Full of pretty phrases.
Handsome
Attractively manly, having a pleasing face and overall effect.
I was tripping over his own feet coming in out of the surf.
Pretty
(Informal) Considerable in size or extent
A pretty fortune.
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.
Pretty
To a fair degree; moderately
A pretty good student.
Handsome
Good, appealing, appropriate.
Pretty
In a pretty manner; prettily or pleasingly.
Handsome
(of weather) Fine, clear and bright.
Pretty
One that is pretty.
Handsome
Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; appropriate.
A handsome style
Pretty
Pretties Delicate clothing, especially lingerie.
Handsome
Generous or noble in character.
Handsome is as handsome does.
Pretty
To make pretty
Pretty up the house.
Handsome
Ample; moderately large.
A handsome salary
Pretty
Pleasant to the sight or other senses; attractive, especially of women or children.
Handsome
Dexterous; skillful.
Pretty
Of objects or things: nice-looking, appealing.
Handsome
To render handsome.
Pretty
Fine-looking; only superficially attractive; initially appealing but having little substance; see petty.
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.
Pretty
Cunning; clever, skilful.
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.
Pretty
(dated) Moderately large; considerable.
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.
Pretty
(dated) Excellent, commendable, pleasing; fitting or proper (of actions, thoughts etc.).
Handsome
Evincing a becoming generosity or nobleness of character; liberal; generous.
Handsome is as handsome does.
Pretty
(ironic) Awkward, unpleasant.
Handsome
Ample; moderately large.
He . . . accumulated a handsome sum of money.
Pretty
Somewhat, fairly, quite; sometimes also (by meiosis) very.
Handsome
To render handsome.
Pretty
(dialect) Prettily, in a pretty manner.
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
Pretty
A pretty person; a term of address to a pretty person.
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
Pretty
Something that is pretty.
We'll stop at the knife store and look at the sharp pretties.
Handsome
Large in quantity or degree.
She made a handsome profit from the sale.
Pretty
To make pretty; to beautify
Pretty
Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or impressing; of a pleasing and attractive form a color; having slight or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without elevation or grandeur; pleasingly, but not grandly, conceived or expressed; as, a pretty face; a pretty flower; a pretty poem.
This is the prettiest lowborn lass that everRan on the greensward.
Pretty
Moderately large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune.
Pretty
Affectedly nice; foppish; - used in an ill sense.
The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant in the world.
Pretty
Mean; despicable; contemptible; - used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow.
Pretty
Stout; strong and brave; intrepid; valiant.
[He] observed they were pretty men, meaning not handsome.
Pretty
In some degree; moderately; considerably; rather; almost; - less emphatic than very; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; pretty cold weather.
Pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian.
Pretty
Pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing;
Pretty girl
Pretty song
Pretty room
Pretty
(used ironically) unexpectedly bad;
A pretty mess
A pretty kettle of fish
Pretty
Used as an intensifier (`jolly' is used informally in Britain);
Pretty big
Pretty bad
Jolly decent of him
Pretty
Tidy or cleanly in appearance or neatness.
The room was pretty and well-organized.
Pretty
Considerable in quantity or degree.
He ate a pretty large portion of the cake.
Pretty
Pleasing to the eye or mind aesthetically.
She wore a pretty dress to the party.
Pretty
Used ironically in phrases like a pretty mess.
Well, this is a pretty situation you’ve gotten us into!
Common Curiosities
Is pretty used for males?
Rarely, "pretty" is predominantly used to describe feminine beauty.
Can handsome be used to describe women?
Yes, "handsome" can describe a woman, typically implying a strong, dignified beauty.
Is pretty applied to non-physical contexts?
Less commonly than handsome, but it can describe considerable amounts, e.g., a "pretty penny."
Is handsome always a compliment?
Typically, yes, but context always matters.
Can pretty be used sarcastically?
Yes, like in "You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you?"
Can pretty describe negative situations, ironically?
Yes, e.g., "a pretty mess" refers to a troublesome situation.
Can handsome refer to objects as well as people?
Yes, like a "handsome car" or "handsome architecture."
Can pretty imply something is smaller or less significant?
Sometimes, e.g., "It’s just a pretty little shop."
Can handsome describe non-physical attributes?
Yes, e.g., a "handsome sum" refers to a generous amount of money.
Can pretty indicate a degree of something?
Yes, like in "He was driving pretty fast."
Is handsome used globally?
Yes, but cultural perceptions of what is "handsome" can vary.
Does handsome always refer to physical appearance?
No, it can also refer to amounts, behaviors, and skill, among others.
Can calling a woman handsome be offensive?
Depending on context, it may be, as "handsome" can be gendered and imply a certain type of beauty.
Is pretty only an adjective?
It’s primarily an adjective but can also be an adverb, e.g., "pretty much."
Is handsome synonymous with beautiful?
They can be similar, but "handsome" often has more masculine and dignified connotations.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
