unsightly

unsightly — adjective

1. looking very unpleasant, especially because something is damaged, dirty, or not

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

looking very unpleasant, especially because something is damaged, dirty, or not well cared for

Example

The city council promised to remove the unsightly graffiti from the old train station.

attributive: unsightly + noun

Vikram painted the shed to cover its unsightly stains from years of rain.

attributive: unsightly stains / mess

Common collocations
  • unsightly graffiti
  • unsightly stains
  • unsightly mess
  • unsightly building
  • unsightly scar
Synonyms
  • ugly

    more common and direct than 'unsightly'; can be used for people, objects, or situations

  • unattractive

    softer and more polite; often about people or choices rather than physical damage or neglect

  • hideous

    much stronger and more emotional; suggests shock or disgust

Antonyms

Usage Note

More formal and slightly less common than 'ugly.' Often describes objects, buildings, marks, or neglected areas rather than people directly. Most frequently used before nouns (attributive position).

Common Mistakes

The building was unsightly decorated.
The building looked unsightly.
'unsightly' is only an adjective; use 'unattractively' for the adverb form.

Word family

  • unsightliness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three describe things that are not pleasing to look at, but they differ in force and context. 'Unsightly' is the most restrained and formal of the group; it suggests something that is unpleasant because of damage, dirt, or neglect — an unsightly stain, an unsightly pile of rubbish. 'Ugly' is the everyday, neutral word and the most versatile — it can describe a face, a building, a colour, or even an idea. 'Unattractive' is the mildest and most polite option, often used to soften a judgment about a person's appearance or a design choice. 'Hideous' is the strongest — it suggests something so ugly it causes shock or disgust. For example, a slightly ugly sofa might be simply 'unattractive,' but one with torn fabric and strange colours could be 'hideous.'

ugly ↗unattractive ↗hideous

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • rather unsightly
  • somewhat unsightly
  • particularly unsightly
  • extremely unsightly

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in late Middle English from the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') and 'sightly' (meaning 'pleasant to look at'). 'Sightly' itself comes from 'sight' plus the suffix '-ly,' which here gives the meaning 'having the quality of.' The word has carried a sense of visual unpleasantness since the 1500s.