Hideous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈhi-dē-əs/ hid·eous

Meaning & Definition of Hideous

Hideous (adjective)

  1. offensive to the senses and especially to sight, exceedingly ugly
  2. morally offensive, shocking

Hideous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

    "the hideous way in which she treated her maid after she discovered her ring was missing"

    similar: abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul, fulsome, gross, horrendous, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, noxious, obnoxious, obscene, odious, offensive, rancid, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening, ugly
    related: exceptionable, objectionable, brackish, disagreeable, dislikable, unpleasant, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hard, hateful, unhealthy, unsavory, unwholesome, execrable, lousy, miserable, atrocious, frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, gruesome, heinous, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, sick, sickish, sickly, terrible, unspeakable, vile, off-putting, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome, barbarous, unchristian, uncivilized, ungodly, unholy, distressing, disturbing, upsetting
    opposite: innocuous, inoffensive
    near: acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, attractive, blessed, congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory, sweet, welcome, unexceptionable, unobjectionable, healthful, healthy, restorative, salubrious, salutary, wholesome

  2. extremely disturbing or repellent

    "a hideous crime that could not be fully described in the newspapers"

    similar: appalling, atrocious, awful, dreadful, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, horrendous, horrible, horrid, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmare, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, terrific
    related: alarming, bloodcurdling, dire, direful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, gut-wrenching, hair-raising, heart-stopping, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, terrifying, abhorrent, deplorable, disagreeable, disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, offensive, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening, abominable, evil, foul, heinous, noxious, odious, unspeakable, vile, grotesque, ugly, unsightly
    near: agreeable, appealing, attractive, delectable, delicious, delightful, enjoyable, enticing, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome, cheering, comforting, soothing

  3. unpleasant to look at

    "wearing a hideous Halloween mask that made the kids all jump with fright"

    similar: grotesque, homely, ill-favored, monstrous, ugly, unappealing, unattractive, unbeautiful, uncomely, unhandsome, unlovely, unpleasing, unpretty, unsightly, vile
    related: abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, gross, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening, frumpish, frumpy, plain, unaesthetic, unbecoming, unshapely
    opposite: aesthetic, attractive, beauteous, beautiful, bonny (chiefly British), comely, cute, drop-dead, fair, fetching, good-looking, goodly, gorgeous, handsome, knockout, lovely, pretty, ravishing, seemly, sightly, stunning, taking, well-favored
    near: shapely, imposing, impressive, prepossessing

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hideous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hideous:

abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul, fulsome, gross, horrendous, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, noxious, obnoxious, obscene, odious, offensive, rancid, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening, ugly, atrocious, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, horrific, horrifying

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hideous

Words with the opposite meaning of Hideous:

innocuous, inoffensive, aesthetic, attractive, beauteous, beautiful, bonny, comely, cute, drop-dead, fair, fetching, good-looking, goodly, gorgeous, handsome, knockout, lovely, pretty, ravishing, seemly, sightly, stunning, taking, well-favored

Related Words for Hideous

exceptionable, objectionable, brackish, disagreeable, dislikable, unpleasant, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hard, hateful, unhealthy, unsavory, unwholesome, execrable, lousy, miserable, grim, heinous, sick, sickish, sickly, unspeakable, off-putting, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome, barbarous, unchristian, uncivilized

Near Antonyms of Hideous

acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, blessed, congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory, sweet, welcome

Word Forms of Hideous

Derived words: hideosity (noun), hideously (adverb), hideousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Hideous

alteration of Middle English hidous, from Anglo-French hidus, hisdos, from Old French hisde, hide terror

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Hideous

What does "Hideous" mean?

"Hideous" means offensive to the senses and especially to sight, exceedingly ugly. As an adjective, it is defined as: offensive to the senses and especially to sight, exceedingly ugly. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hideous"?

Other words for "Hideous" include abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful and evil. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hideous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hideous"?

There are 118 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hideous". Common alternatives include abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul and fulsome.

What is the opposite of "Hideous"?

Antonyms of "Hideous" include innocuous, inoffensive, aesthetic, attractive, beauteous, beautiful, bonny and comely. Near antonyms include acceptable, agreeable, alluring and appealing.

How do you use "Hideous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hideous" in a sentence: "the hideous way in which she treated her maid after she discovered her ring was missing"; "a hideous crime that could not be fully described in the newspapers"; "wearing a hideous Halloween mask that made the kids all jump with fright".

Is "Hideous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hideous" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Hideous"?

"Hideous" is pronounced /ˈhi-dē-əs/ and divided into syllables as hid·eous.

What is the origin of the word "Hideous"?

"Hideous" comes from alteration of Middle English hidous, from Anglo-French hidus, hisdos, from Old French hisde, hide terror. First known use: 14th century.