hideous
11 synonyms and 2 antonyms for hideous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Extremely or shockingly ugly.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use hideous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
hideous creature
hideous crime
Etymology
From Old French "hideus," ultimately from a word meaning "horror" or "fear" — the word originally carried a sense of something terrifying rather than merely unattractive.
Full origin of hideous →Frequently asked questions
What does “hideous” mean?
The word “hideous” means extremely or shockingly ugly. In plain terms, extremely ugly or shocking, used for appearance or for something morally awful.
How do you pronounce “hideous”?
“Hideous” is pronounced HIHD-ee-uhs (/ˈhɪd.i.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “hideous” in a sentence?
Here is “hideous” used in a sentence: “The monster in the film had a hideous, twisted face.”
What is another word for “hideous”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hideous” include frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, grotesque and horrid.
What part of speech is “hideous”?
“Hideous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “hideous” come from?
The word “hideous” comes from Old French. From Old French "hideus," ultimately from a word meaning "horror" or "fear" — the word originally carried a sense of something terrifying rather than merely unattractive.
Is “hideous” a common word?
“Hideous” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hideous” have?
“Hideous” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely or shockingly ugly.
