hideous

adjective

hid·​eous ˈhi-dē-əs How to pronounce hideous (audio)
1
: offensive to the senses and especially to sight : exceedingly ugly
hideous furniture
The dress looked hideous on her.
2
: morally offensive : shocking
a hideous crime
hideosity noun
hideously adverb
hideousness noun

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
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.
The Menendez trials — the first of the two ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury — became such a sensation in part because of the hideous nature of the crime, but also because of who Lyle and Erik were. Jen Chaney, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024 Is this just how the game unfolds each time, part of some hideous narrative doomed to repeat itself? Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 The bottom line: Do whatever makes your heart happy, but, please, spare us the hideous inflatables at all times of the year. Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 26 Sep. 2024 This was a hideous mistake, the details of which should remain unspoken. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hideous 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of hideous was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near hideous

Cite this Entry

“Hideous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hideous. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

hideous

adjective
hid·​eous ˈhid-ē-əs How to pronounce hideous (audio)
: horribly ugly or disgusting : frightful
hideously adverb
hideousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hideous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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