Hideous

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈhɪd.i.əs/

Definitions

  1. Extremely ugly or repulsive in appearance; causing feelings of revulsion or horror | morally repugnant or abhorrent
  2. Something that is very unattractive or offensive in look | An object or idea that evokes a strong sense of disgust or aversion | A thing that is strikingly unpleasant to the senses or morally reprehensible
  3. Something that is shockingly unattractive or offensive in nature | An entity that provokes a strong reaction of disgust or horror | An appearance or concept that is severely unpleasant or morally unacceptable

Etymology: The adjective emerged in English around the late Middle Ages, roughly in the 14th or 15th century, capturing the sense of something shocking or repulsive to the eye or mind. Its roots lie in the Old French word "hideus" or "hidelous," which itself derives from the Latin "horridus," meaning rough, bristly, or dreadful. The Latin term conveyed a sense of physical harshness or a threatening appearance, which gradually morphed in English into the broader idea of extreme ugliness or repulsiveness. The Latin "horridus" is also the source of the English word "horrid," and both words share the idea of causing horror or disgust. However, "hideous" took on a more visual emphasis, often describing something grotesque or deforming to look at. This connection to an outward, striking ugliness distinguished it from related terms that could refer more broadly to unpleasantness or moral repugnance. Over time, the meaning expanded beyond mere physical appearance to include anything that deeply offends the senses or sensibilities, such as hideous crimes or hideous sounds. The suffix "-ous," common in English adjectives, was added to the root to form "hideous," indicating possessing the quality of being hideous or horrifying. The word thus encapsulates a progression from Latin descriptive physical traits to Old French adaptation, then to English usage as a vivid descriptor for extreme ugliness and repulsiveness, both in form and in metaphorical senses.

Synonyms: ugly, repulsive, disgusting, abhorrent, offensive

Antonyms: beautiful, attractive, lovely, appealing, charming