They went through the courtyard, past a naked copper houri tilting a water-jar that merely dripped[.]
Source: wiktionary
Houri
/ˈhʊəɹi/
Synonyms for "houri" (43 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (9)
Strong matches (13)
Related words (21)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: adonis, adventuress, aphrodite, apollo, apollo belvedere.
- Sentence evidence is available for houri, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, wordnet.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "houri".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "houri"
Keep "houri" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "houri" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "houri", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "houri" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesMore specific
6 entrieserotic stereotypeexotic tropeheavenly maideninterpretive translationliteral translationparadise maiden
Collocations
6 entriesIslamic paradiseQur'anic descriptionexotic tropeheavenly maidenshouri tropeparadise inhabitants
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesSample sentences
7 total sentences available.
We cannot go into the technical details of his methodology but it allows Luxenberg, to the probable horror of all Muslim males dreaming of sexual bliss in the Muslim hereafter, to conjure away the wide-eyed houris promised to the faithful in suras XLIV.54; LII.20, LV.72, and LVI.22. Luxenberg's new analysis, leaning on the Hymns of Ephrem the Syrian, yields "white raisins" of "crystal clarity" rather than doe-eyed, and ever willing virgins - the houris.
Source: wiktionary
The repetition of material about the houri suggests that the popularization of that figure occurred as early as the ninth century and continued well into the twelfth century. By then, the houri had become a kind of metonymy for the Garden, as well as an accepted object. A new role of the houri as the superlative being of the Garden emerged through the use of traditions, and most of all the structure of the text. Al-Qadi's text provides an excellent example of the importance of the houri.
Source: wiktionary
What if in paradise there are no houris waiting? / What if but all you get are grapes, succulent grapes? / What if it's all just a mistake in the translation?
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "houri"?
Closest matches include adonis, adventuress, aphrodite, apollo, apollo belvedere.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "houri"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.