hideous

adjective

hid·​eous ˈhi-dē-əs 

1

: offensive to the senses and especially to sight : exceedingly ugly

hideous furniture

The dress looked hideous on her.

2

: morally offensive : shocking entry 1

a hideous crime

hideosity

ˌhi-dē-ˈä-sə-tē 

noun

hideously adverb

hideousness noun

Synonyms of hideous

• ugly
• disgusting
• horrible
• awful
• sickening
• obnoxious
• shocking
• dreadful
• obscene
• offensive
• nasty

Examples of hideous in a Sentence

The room was filled with hideous furniture.

the hideous way in which she treated her maid after she discovered her ring was missing

Recent Examples on the Web

In his latest romp, corporate greed, lovable cows and hideous monsters converge in Richland, Ohio. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026

The greatest player in the world was reduced to the role of supporting actor by Stan Wawrinka, who delivered a masterclass of a performance in possibly the most hideous shorts ever seen on a tennis court. — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Alabama has been busily demonstrating that the reverse is true, following a string of hideous botched lethal injection executions with a series of no less gruesome executions with nitrogen suffocation. — Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

But then comes the ad, a full-screen photo of a hideous brown leather recliner. — Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English hidous, from Anglo-French hidus, hisdos, from Old French hisde, hide terror

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hideous

• fastidious
• insidious
• invidious

Kids Definition

hideous

adjective

hid·​eous ˈhid-ē-əs 

: horribly ugly or disgusting : frightful

hideously adverb

hideousness noun