1
as in ugly
unpleasant to look at
a character actor with a distinctively craggy, unhandsome face
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rude
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others
in an interview the free-spoken actor made some unhandsome remarks about his costars
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Recent Examples of unhandsome
In the ’50s, almost all apparel sold in America was made in America, much of it in that blunt, unhandsome neighborhood halfway between Midtown and Chelsea, a patch of blocks less than a square mile, crammed daily with hundreds of thousands of workers.
—
Susan Dominus Photographs By Joshua Kissi Styled By Ian Bradley Sasha Weiss Photographs By Collier Schorr Styled By Jay Massacret Megan O’Grady Portrait By Mickalene Thomas and Racquel Chevremont Ligaya Mishan Photographs By Tina Barney, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2021
Susan Dominus Photographs By Joshua Kissi Styled By Ian Bradley Sasha Weiss Photographs By Collier Schorr Styled By Jay Massacret Megan O’Grady Portrait By Mickalene Thomas and Racquel Chevremont Ligaya Mishan Photographs By Tina Barney, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhandsome
Adjective
-
The Broncos escaped, but this was ugly.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
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On the other side, there was just as much commotion, but these conversations were almost hysterical — and far uglier.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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It’s still considered rude, and people on both sides tend to feel bad about it, albeit in different ways.—
Anna Holmes,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
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Is it meant to suggest something about focaccia’s typically dimpled surface, in which case … kinda rude?—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Smears on non-sensor areas of the tiara are like bug debris on your hood, aesthetically unpleasing but not harmful.—
Eric Tegler,
Popular Mechanics,
1 Oct. 2019
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His side's inability to finish off the game against Burnley on the other hand was very unpleasing.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
1 Feb. 2018
Adjective
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Charles’s actions then were interpreted, probably correctly, as a rebuke to Trump for his ungracious treatment of his guest, and also reminded international onlookers that the king remains the most political of monarchs, unafraid to make his favor—or displeasure—known.—
Alexander Larman,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
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But, even though there was nothing the slightest bit ungracious or ungenerous about her performance, it was felt more like the audience being asked to come to her.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Here, see the real-life The Twits cast side-by-side with their hilariously hideous animated counterparts.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
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The Jets did precious little against the hideous Dallas defense and, on the other side of the ball, allowed scoring drives of 90 and 91 yards.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Now is also the natural point to move away from Aston Villa assets, with their appealing run of opening games coming to an abrupt end.—
Holly Shand,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Berkeley’s apparent abrupt change of course came as a deep disappointment to Andrea Prichett, who helped found Berkeley Copwatch in 1990.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Ninety minutes of hilariously grotesque mayhem.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
19 Oct. 2025
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Alex casually informing a family friend that their son will take the fall for Paul’s sin is clearly grotesque behavior.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unhandsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhandsome. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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