# unsightly

/ənˈsaɪtɫi/ (US) · /ʌnsˈaɪtli/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unsightly
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

not attractive or pleasant to look at. You use this to describe things that are messy, ugly, or make a place look bad.

For teachers: unpleasant or unattractive in appearance. Often used to describe physical structures, litter, or visual clutter that detracts from an environment's aesthetic appeal.

## Examples

- The old, rusty fence is an unsightly eyesore.
- The city council voted to remove the unsightly scaffolding from the historic building to improve the street view.
- While the new industrial park brought jobs to the area, the lack of landscaping left the concrete walls looking unsightly against the surrounding green fields.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.