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Handsome vs Hunky - What's the difference?

handsome | hunky |

Hunky is a synonym of handsome.



As adjectives the difference between handsome and hunky

is that handsome is dexterous; skillful while hunky is exhibiting strong, masculine beauty.

As a verb handsome

is to render handsome.

As a noun hunky is

a person of Hungarian or Slavic, especially Ruthenian, descent.

handsome

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • (obsolete, said of things and people) Dexterous; skillful
  • *
  • *
  • (of a man) Visually attractive; pleasant looking.
    • a handsome' man; a ' handsome garment, house, tree, horse.
  • (of a woman) Striking, impressive and elegantly proportioned, though not typically beautiful.
  • Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; graceful; becoming; appropriate.
    • a handsome style, etc.
  • *
  • Generous or noble in character
    • Handsome' is as ' handsome does.
  • Ample; moderately large.
    • a handsome salary
  • *
  • Having a good appearance
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=November 5 , author=Phil Dawkes , title=QPR 2 - 3 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=City have lapped up the plaudits this season for a series of handsome wins but manager Roberto Mancini has demanded that his side also learn to grind out results when they do not play well. He now has an example to point to.}}

    Derived terms

    * do the handsome thing

    Synonyms

    * (attractive) pretty

    Verb

    (handsom)
  • (obsolete) To render handsome.

    • hunky

    English

    Etymology 1

    Probably (etyl) hunke, 19th century.

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (slang) Exhibiting strong, masculine beauty.
  • Shaped like a hunk, or piece; chunky.
    • Related terms
    * hunk

    Etymology 2

    From the older (hunk), probably alteration of (Hungarian). Compare (bohunk).

    Alternative forms

    * hunkie * hunkey

    Noun

    (hunkies)
  • (North America, slang, ethnic slur) A person of Hungarian or Slavic, especially Ruthenian, descent.
  • *2009 , Victor Bockris, Warhol: The Biography , page 20
  • *:Like blacks, who were the only ethnic group below them on the social scale, Eastern Europeans, contemptuously labelled ‘hunkies ’, were dismissed as incapable and untrustworthy.

    • References

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