unsightly
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- unsightliness noun
Etymology
Origin of unsightly
late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at un- 1, sightly
Explanation
Unsightly is a gentler way of saying ugly. Often something that is described as unsightly sticks out like a sore thumb in an otherwise attractive environment. A yard full of weeds and broken-down cars in a well-groomed neighborhood is unsightly. Magazine advertisements highlight products that promise to remove or hide unsightly blemishes and scars, restoring your skin to its previous beauty.
Vocabulary lists containing unsightly
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 3
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Chains
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It has supported countless cups of seltzer, glasses of tomato juice and mugs of tea, keeping our marble-top table free of unsightly rings.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026
To wrap a basketball, for example, you’d need to crumple the paper in a horrible mess or cut many pieces and tape them together with unsightly overlaps.
From Slate • Jan. 21, 2026
Mr Frémond says not only is this unsightly, it attracts foxes and rats and obstructs the pavement.
From BBC • Nov. 15, 2025
After Stafford took over, the Rams led 14-9 with enough momentum to carry them to a stirring if fairly unsightly victory.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2025
Cement walls were erected to hide the most unsightly shantytowns from the eyes of tourists and others who preferred not to see them.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
