Handsome vs. Smart: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on November 24, 2023
Handsome refers to physical attractiveness, while Smart denotes intelligence or cleverness.
Key Differences
Handsome and Smart are two descriptors that often apply to people, but they convey different types of admiration. Handsome typically refers to someone's physical appearance suggesting they are pleasing to look at, while Smart alludes to someone's intellectual capacity or wit.
A person described as handsome might have symmetrical features, a pleasant countenance, or a striking presence. This term is often used in the context of physical beauty. Conversely, a smart individual is often recognized for their quick thinking, knowledge, or problem-solving abilities.
While handsome is mainly associated with aesthetic appeal, it can sometimes be used more broadly, implying a sense of dignity or nobility. For instance, a "handsome gesture" is a gracious or generous act. On the other hand, smart can also refer to being well-dressed or stylish, but its primary connotation remains tied to intelligence.
It's possible for someone to be both handsome and smart, and the two attributes aren't mutually exclusive. However, societal stereotypes sometimes unjustly presume otherwise, suggesting someone might be only one or the other.
In essence, while both terms are compliments, handsome highlights physical attributes, and smart emphasizes cognitive ones.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Association
Physical attractiveness or beauty.
Intelligence or cleverness.
Secondary Meaning
Generosity or nobility (e.g., a handsome gesture).
Well-dressed or stylish.
Gender Connotations
Often used for men but can apply to any gender.
Gender-neutral.
Contextual Use
"He is a handsome man."
"She gave a smart answer."
Opposites
Plain or unattractive.
Dull or slow-witted.
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Handsome and Smart Definitions
Handsome
Pleasing in appearance; good-looking.
The actor was considered very handsome by many.
Smart
Showing intelligence or quick thinking.
She made a smart decision in a difficult situation.
Handsome
Considerable or ample in size or amount.
She received a handsome salary for her work.
Smart
Painful or sharp.
The slap left a smart on his cheek.
Handsome
Strikingly impressive in effect or extent.
The play had a handsome success.
Smart
Energetic or brisk.
She set a smart pace during the marathon.
Handsome
Marked by graciousness or generosity.
It was a handsome gesture to donate to the cause.
Smart
Having or showing intelligence; bright.
Handsome
Exhibiting noble or dignified appearance.
The old building had a handsome façade.
Smart
Canny and shrewd in dealings with others
A smart negotiator.
Handsome
Pleasing in form or appearance, especially having strong or distinguished features
A handsome man.
A woman with a handsome face.
Smart
Amusingly clever; witty
A smart quip.
A lively, smart conversation.
Handsome
Having stately or attractive proportions or appearance; impressive
A handsome manor.
A sleek, handsome car.
Smart
Impertinent; insolent
That's enough of your smart talk.
Handsome
Large in amount or measure; generous or considerable
A handsome reward.
Won by a handsome margin.
Smart
Energetic or quick in movement
A smart pace.
Handsome
Marked by or requiring skill or dexterity
Did some handsome maneuvers on the skating rink.
Smart
Fashionable; elegant
A smart suit.
A smart restaurant.
The smart set.
Handsome
Appropriate or fitting
A handsome location for the new school.
Smart
Capable of making adjustments that resemble those resulting from human decisions, chiefly by means of electronic sensors and computer technology
Smart missiles.
Smart machines.
Handsome
Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive, particularly
That is one handsome tree you've got there.
Smart
To cause a sharp, usually superficial, stinging pain
The slap delivered to my face smarted.
Handsome
Attractively manly, having a pleasing face and overall effect.
I was tripping over his own feet coming in out of the surf.
Smart
To be the location of such a pain
The incision on my leg smarts.
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.
Smart
To feel such a pain.
Handsome
Good, appealing, appropriate.
Smart
To suffer acutely, as from mental distress, wounded feelings, or remorse
"No creature smarts so little as a fool" (Alexander Pope).
Handsome
(of weather) Fine, clear and bright.
Smart
Sharp pain or anguish
The smart of the wound.
Handsome
Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; appropriate.
A handsome style
Smart
Smarts(Slang) Intelligence; expertise
A reporter with a lot of smarts.
Handsome
Generous or noble in character.
Handsome is as handsome does.
Smart
(intransitive) To hurt or sting.
After being hit with a pitch, the batter exclaimed "Ouch, my arm smarts!"
Handsome
Ample; moderately large.
A handsome salary
Smart
(transitive) To cause a smart or sting in.
Handsome
Dexterous; skillful.
Smart
(intransitive) To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; be punished severely; to feel the sting of evil.
Handsome
To render handsome.
Smart
Exhibiting social ability or cleverness.
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.
Smart
(informal) Exhibiting intellectual knowledge, such as that found in books.
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.
Smart
Equipped with intelligent behaviour (digital/computer technology).
Smart car
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.
Smart
Good-looking; well dressed; fine; fashionable.
A smart outfit
You look smart in that business suit.
Handsome
Evincing a becoming generosity or nobleness of character; liberal; generous.
Handsome is as handsome does.
Smart
Cleverly shrewd and humorous in a way that may be rude and disrespectful.
He became tired of his daughter's sarcasm and smart remarks.
Don't get smart with me!
Handsome
Ample; moderately large.
He . . . accumulated a handsome sum of money.
Smart
Sudden and intense.
Handsome
To render handsome.
Smart
Causing sharp pain; stinging.
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
Smart
Sharp; keen; poignant.
A smart pain
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
Smart
Intense in feeling; painful. Used usually with the adverb intensifier right.
He raised his voice, and it hurt her feelings right smart.
That cast on his leg chaffs him right smart.
Smart
(archaic) Efficient; vigorous; brilliant.
Smart
(archaic) Pretentious; showy; spruce.
A smart gown
Smart
(archaic) Brisk; fresh.
A smart breeze
Smart
A sharp, quick, lively pain; a sting.
Smart
Mental pain or suffering; grief; affliction.
Smart
Smart-money.
Smart
A dandy; one who is smart in dress; one who is brisk, vivacious, or clever.
Smart
To feel a lively, pungent local pain; - said of some part of the body as the seat of irritation; as, my finger smarts; these wounds smart.
Smart
To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to suffer; to feel the sting of evil; as, the team is still smarting from its loss of the championship.
No creature smarts so little as a fool.
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it.
Smart
To cause a smart in.
Smart
Quick, pungent, lively pain; a pricking local pain, as the pain from puncture by nettles.
Smart
Severe, pungent pain of mind; pungent grief; as, the smart of affliction.
To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart.
Counsel mitigates the greatest smart.
Smart
A fellow who affects smartness, briskness, and vivacity; a dandy.
Smart
Smart money (see below).
Smart
Causing a smart; pungent; pricking; as, a smart stroke or taste.
How smart lash that speech doth give my conscience.
Smart
Keen; severe; poignant; as, smart pain.
Smart
Vigorous; sharp; severe.
Smart
Accomplishing, or able to accomplish, results quickly; active; sharp; clever.
Smart
Efficient; vigorous; brilliant.
Smart
Marked by acuteness or shrewdness; quick in suggestion or reply; vivacious; witty; as, a smart reply; a smart saying.
Who, for the poor renown of being smartWould leave a sting within a brother's heart?
A sentence or two, . . . which I thought very smart.
Smart
Pretentious; showy; spruce; as, a smart gown.
Smart
Brisk; fresh; as, a smart breeze.
Smart
A kind of pain such as that caused by a wound or a burn or a sore
Smart
Be the source of pain
Smart
Showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
Smart
Elegant and stylish;
Chic elegance
A smart new dress
A suit of voguish cut
Smart
Characterized by quickness and ease in learning;
Some children are brighter in one subject than another
Smart children talk earlier than the average
Smart
Improperly forward or bold;
Don't be fresh with me
Impertinent of a child to lecture a grownup
An impudent boy given to insulting strangers
Smart
Marked by smartness in dress and manners;
A dapper young man
A jaunty red hat
Smart
Stylish or elegant in appearance.
He wore a smart suit to the interview.
Smart
Technologically advanced.
My smart refrigerator can order groceries online.
FAQs
Can a device be smart?
Yes, devices like phones and appliances can be "smart," meaning technologically advanced.
Can a woman be described as handsome?
Yes, "handsome" can refer to a woman with distinguished or striking features.
Does being smart mean always having the right answer?
No, being smart can also mean the ability to think critically or adapt to situations.
Can an act or gesture be handsome?
Yes, a gracious or generous act can be called a "handsome gesture."
Can objects be described as handsome?
Yes, objects like cars or buildings can be called "handsome" to denote aesthetic appeal.
Is smart just about academic intelligence?
No, "smart" can refer to practical intelligence, wit, or quick thinking, not just academics.
Is the term handsome outdated?
While its usage has evolved, "handsome" remains a relevant term in modern language.
Can "smart" mean painful?
Yes, in some contexts, "smart" can describe a sharp or stinging pain.
Does handsome have any connotations beyond looks?
Yes, it can also suggest generosity, like a "handsome gesture," or ample size, like a "handsome sum."
Is being handsome only about facial features?
No, it can refer to overall physical presence, including stature and style.
Can smart refer to appearance?
Yes, "smart" can describe someone who is well-dressed or stylish.
Is handsome always a compliment?
Typically, yes, but context matters; it can be neutral or even negative in specific settings.
Can objects be described as smart?
Yes, particularly in tech, objects like watches and TVs can be "smart," indicating advanced features or connectivity.
What's a synonym for smart?
Intelligent, clever, or astute are synonyms for smart.
Are handsome and smart mutually exclusive?
No, a person can be both handsome and smart.
What's the opposite of smart?
Depending on context, "dull" or "slow-witted" could be opposites.
Can animals be described as smart?
Absolutely, many animals like dolphins and dogs are often described as smart due to their learning abilities.
Does handsome have any cultural variations in meaning?
Beauty standards vary by culture, so what's considered "handsome" can differ around the world.
What's a lesser-known synonym for handsome?
"Comely" is an older term that also means pleasing in appearance.
Can smart describe a taste?
Rarely in modern usage, but "smart" can describe a sharp or tangy taste.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
