Word
hideous
US/ˈhɪdiəs/
UK/hˈɪdiəs/
Definitions
01extremely ugly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very ugly or unpleasant to look at.
adj. extremely or shockingly ugly in appearance; offensive to the aesthetic sense.
“The old wallpaper was a hideous shade of green that made the room feel dark.”
“The new office block was widely condemned as a hideous addition to the historic skyline, clashing violently with the surrounding Victorian architecture.”
Antonyms
02morally shocking
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. very bad, cruel, or shocking in a way that makes you feel angry.
adj. morally offensive, detestable, or shockingly wicked.
“The newspaper reported on the hideous crimes committed during the war.”
“The investigation revealed a series of hideous abuses of power that had been systematically covered up by the administration for decades.”
03unpleasant sound
C2 · Proficiency Literary
adj. a sound that is very loud, frightening, or unpleasant to hear.
adj. producing a very unpleasant, harsh, or frightening sound.
“A hideous screech came from the old brakes as the train stopped.”
“The silence of the moor was suddenly shattered by a hideous, low-pitched wail that seemed to emanate from the earth itself.”
Real-World Examples
“George Orwell later described his cathedral as “one of the most hideous buildings in the world”.” “The city's Lime Street redevelopment, which houses a supermarket and restaurants, was given the title by London magazine, The Fence, which annually celebrates what it calls the nation’s most "hideous" architecture.” “A London office block described as a "bright red hideous mess" has been named the UK's worst building.” “If you buy a hideous router, you’re more likely to put it in a closet.” Etymology
From Middle English hidous, from Anglo-Norman hidous, from Old French hideus, hydus (“that which inspires terror”), from earlier hisdos, from Old French hisda (“horror, fear”), of uncertain and disputed origin. Probably from Proto-West Germanic agisiþu (“horror, terror”), from Proto-West Germanic agisōn (“to frighten, terrorise”), from Proto-Germanic agaz (“terror, fear”), from Proto-Indo-European h₂egʰ- (“to frighten”). Cognate with Old High German egisa, egidī (“horror”), Old English egesa (“fear, dread”), Gothic 𐌰𐌲𐌹𐍃 (agis, “fear, terror”). Alternative etymology cites possible derivation from Latin hispidosus (“rugged”), from hispidus (“rough, bristly”), yet the semantic evolution is less plausible.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/hideous