unsightly

1 of 2

adjective

un·​sight·​ly ˌən-ˈsīt-lē How to pronounce unsightly (audio)
Synonyms of unsightlynext
: not pleasing to the sight : not comely
an unsightly mess
unsightliness
ˌən-ˈsīt-lē-nəs How to pronounce unsightly (audio)
noun

unsightliness

2 of 2

noun

un·​sightliness ¦ən+ How to pronounce unsightliness (audio)
: the quality or state of being unsightly

Synonyms of unsightly

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of unsightly in a Sentence

Adjective The cracks in the wall are unsightly. strip-mining leaves an unsightly gash in the landscape
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
At the same time, function doesn’t have to come at the cost of unsightly outdoor gear. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 3 Aug. 2026 To prevent unsightly dust from gathering on your attractive houseplants, try adding it to your regular cleaning routine. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 27 July 2026 Red wine is notorious for leaving behind an unsightly discoloration in your favorite clothes, but the good news is that this stain doesn't have to stick around forever! — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 13 July 2026 The unsightly mushroom could have corrupted her maids’ morals, or even their health. — Leah Hudson, Popular Science, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsightly

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsightly was in the 15th century

Rhymes for unsightly

See All Rhymes for unsightly

Browse Nearby Words

unsightliness
unsightly
unsigned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsightly. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

unsightly

adjective
un·​sight·​ly ˌən-ˈsīt-lē How to pronounce unsightly (audio)
ˈən-
: unpleasant to the sight : ugly
an unsightly scar
unsightliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unsightly

Nglish: Translation of unsightly for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of torpor

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All