homely
Other forms: homeliest; homelier; homelily
Homely describes someone who's plain or unattractive, like your homely Aunt Agnes or her squish-faced bulldog.
The adjective homely is a slightly more gentle word than ugly, with a meaning closer to "plain" than "hideous." It's almost always used to describe a less-than-attractive person, and occasionally an animal. If you were British, you'd use homely to mean "cozy and homelike," but in the United States you'd say "homey." Be careful not to confuse homey with homely, or you could accidentally hurt someone's feelings.
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lacking in physical beauty or proportion“a homely child”“several of the buildings were downright homely”synonyms: plainunattractivelacking beauty or charm
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without artificial refinement or elegance“plain homely furniture”“homely manners”synonyms:inelegantlacking in refinement or grace or good taste
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plain and unpretentious“homely truths”“letters to his son full of homely advice”“homely fare”synonyms:plainnot elaborate or elaborated; simple
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having a feeling of home; cozy and comfortable“the homely everyday atmosphere”
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Vocabulary lists containing homely
In this short story, an African American woman in the South reflects on history, heritage, and family. Here is a link to our lists for The Color Purple by Alice Walker.
In the summer of 1968, three sisters travel to California to visit their estranged mother. While there, they learn about the fight for equality and civil rights.
Determined to support her family, Lyddie is drawn to the textile mills flourishing in 19th-century Lowell, Massachusetts, but her dreams are threatened by the brutal working conditions she finds there.