eyesore

American  

[ahy-sawr, ahy-sohr] / ˈaɪˌsɔr, ˈaɪˌsoʊr /

noun

1. something unpleasant to look at.

   The run-down house was an eyesore to the neighbors.

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eyesore British  

/ ˈaɪˌsɔː /

noun

1. something very ugly

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Etymology

Origin of eyesore

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at eye, sore

Explanation

Something that's really unpleasant to look at is an eyesore. You could call your apartment building an eyesore if it's a huge, ugly concrete structure that looms over your street. Most eyesores are structures or buildings — an old, decrepit house that's sagging on one side and has a yard full of weeds is probably thought of as an eyesore by most of its neighbors. You might also describe a new hotel as an eyesore if it's painted a strange shade of pink that clashes with the buildings nearby. The word eyesore has been around since the 1500's, from the idea of "something so offensive to the eye that it hurts."

Example Sentences

Over half of it will be elevated -- a major concern for Alexandrians who fear the tree-lined track will be replaced by eyesore concrete stilts.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Not only is the waste an eyesore, it is also damaging to sheep grazing on the land as well as nesting birds and other wildlife, she said.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

Spending $8,000 to repave it does seem like a lot of money up front, but perhaps the reason your agent is pushing for this update is that it’s kind of an eyesore.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 13, 2025

“People are just upset about how much of an eyesore it is.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 7, 2025

I say: "We're not asking for money. We're not asking for anything but permission to remove an eyesore and transform a communal place. It would be an improvement."

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Related Words

• blight