homely
lacking in physical attractiveness; not beautiful; unattractive: a homely child.
not having elegance, refinement, or cultivation.
proper or suited to the home or to ordinary domestic life; plain; unpretentious: homely food.
commonly seen or known.
Origin of homely
1synonym study For homely
Other words from homely
- home·li·ness, noun
- o·ver·home·li·ness, noun
- o·ver·home·ly, adjective
- un·home·li·ness, noun
- un·home·ly, adjective
Words that may be confused with homely
Words Nearby homely
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use homely in a sentence
The homely original 1999 Honda Insight hybrid-electric is the appearance they sought to avoid.
This Mercedes EV is a moonshot machine that can travel 621 miles on a single charge | Dan Carney | July 30, 2022 | Popular-ScienceThe Ugly Duckling, by Martha StewartI recently helped a homely little bird transform herself into a beautiful swan.
Style Invitational Week 1436: Haven’t seen it — new plots for movie titles | Pat Myers | May 13, 2021 | Washington PostI resolve to only go out with plain or even rather homely girls.
Whit Stillman on the 20th Anniversary of ‘Barcelona’, His New Amazon Series, and the Myth of the Ugly Expat | Michael Weiss | August 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTUp From Slavery is a book written in a direct style, using a simple vocabulary and homely humor.
Others this season stood by their affection for homely beauty and baroque extravagance.
Milan Fashion Week’s Big Finale: Versace and Dolce & Gabbana Wow, While Armani Falls Short | Robin Givhan | February 27, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
When she had a makeover in August 2009, those who fell in love with the homely homebody almost had a collective breakdown.
Adele, Lady Gaga, and More Unconventional Pop Stars | Jacob Bernstein | March 10, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST"Men who are viewed as being below average or homely are penalized" when it comes to wages.
She was a homely woman, with a small weazened face and body and eyes that glowed.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinEven Tim, so fine and big, had in this homely, lanky man a rival well worth watching.
The Soldier of the Valley | Nelson LloydShe felt very sorrowful as she smoothed the homely garments, and placed them in a small leathern trunk.
The World Before Them | Susanna MoodieThe homely but substantial dinner was smoking on the table, and Joe's wife was already in her place at the head of the board.
The World Before Them | Susanna MoodieKeep her there; for nature plainly intended her for a homely woman—Didst ever quarrel with her before marriage?
The Battle of Hexham; | George Colman
British Dictionary definitions for homely
/ (ˈhəʊmlɪ) /
characteristic of or suited to the ordinary home; unpretentious
(of a person)
British warm and domesticated in manner or appearance
mainly US and Canadian plain or ugly
Derived forms of homely
- homeliness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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