Comely is an adjectivea word that describes a noun or pronoun with two distinctclearly different or separate from one another senses. It can describe something that is proper or in keeping with acceptedgenerally approved by most people or a group behavior, and it can also describe a person or face as pleasant or attractive to look at.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈkʌmli/
Easy pronunciation: KUM-lee (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Pronounced for the adjective meaning proper, fitting, or in keeping with custom.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Comely Meaning
well-behaved, proper, or fitting
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: proper and in keeping with accepted behavior or custom
Example: She gave a comely response to the awkward question.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- becoming — Works when comely means proper or suitable.
- decorous — A strong match for behavior that is proper and restrained.
- seemly — Fits this sense of being appropriate or proper.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Comely
Meaning 2
good-looking
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: pleasant or attractive in appearance
Example: He was a comely young man with a warm smile.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bonnie — Used mainly in some dialects; works for attractive appearance.
- bonny — A variant spelling with the same sense of attractive or pretty.
- fair — Can mean attractive in older or literary usage, though it is broader than comely.
- sightly — Means pleasant to look at, though it is a bit formal or old-fashioned.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Comely Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- becoming
- decorous
- seemly
pleasant or attractive in appearance
- bonnie
- bonny
- fair
- sightly
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse comely with merely 'common' or with 'comely behavior' meaning attractive behavior; in modern English, the word usually sounds literary or old-fashioned.
- The adjective usually describes appearance in everyday use, while the propriety sense is more formal or dated.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does comely mean?
Comely can mean proper or fitting, but in modern usage it more often means pleasant-looking or attractive.
What are comely synonyms?
For the proper-usage sense, good synonyms include becoming, decorous, and seemly. For the attractive-appearance sense, bonnie, bonny, fair, and sightly can fit depending on context.
Is comely a common word today?
Not especially. It is understandable, but it sounds a bit literary, old-fashioned, or formal in many contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.