hideous - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
hideous Word Meanings
- extremely ugly or horrible
- shocking or revolting
- very unpleasant
hideous Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
hideous Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈhɪd.i.əs/
US
/ˈhɪd.i.əs/
hideous Word Etymology
Root: hide- = to hide; -ous = full of. Origin: Latin → Old French → English. Memory image: Imagine a monster hiding under a bed, horrifically ugly and terrifying, making you want to hide away.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Hideous is a strong adjective used for things that are visually shocking or morally repellent, not just unattractive. It often conveys a sense of revulsion that goes beyond ordinary ugliness. You can describe a nightmarish scene, a grotesque costume, or a crime that horrifies people as hideous. The word carries intensity and is more formal or dramatic than simply ugly or awful, so it fits narrative passages and emphatic speech. Because it implies a clear judgment about ugliness or wrongness, native speakers may choose it carefully in sensitive contexts. Remember the root idea: full of hide, something that makes you want to hide.
Usage Reminders
- 1) Compare with ugly and horrible to gauge intensity
- 2) Use with concrete nouns (scene, crime, costume) for emphasis
- 3) Avoid describing people too often; it sounds insulting in casual speech
- 4) Pair with adverbs like absolutely or utterly for stronger effect
- 5) Reserve for descriptive, narrative, or dramatic contexts
- 6) Remember roots: full of hiding; think of something that makes you want to hide
Common Misconceptions
- It only refers to physical ugliness.
- It should be used for people in polite conversation.
- It means something is merely ugly, not shocking or repulsive.
- It cannot describe actions or crimes.
- It is interchangeable with ugly in all contexts.
Thinking Differences
Hideous sits toward the top end of English intensity for appearance or behavior. Learners often overuse it in casual talk or apply it to people, which can sound harsh. Distinguish it from ugly (just appearance) and horrible (emotional/ broad disgust) and reserve for vivid, cinematic, or morally jarring descriptions. A memory cue: something so troubling it makes you want to hide.
Learning Tips
- Learn common collocations: hideous sight, hideous crime, hideous costume
- Differentiate: ugly (appearance), horrible (emotion/impact), grotesque (distorted), atrocious (morally shocking)
- Use intensity with adverbs: absolutely hideous, utterly hideous
- Match tone to context: fiction or sensational writing
- Avoid overuse with people; consider alternatives like dreadful or horrific
- Remember root image and 'full of hide' concept
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of 'hideous'?
A.Beautiful
B.Smart
C.Funny
D.Ugly
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses 'hideous' correctly?
A.The sunset was hideous and breathtaking.
B.The puppy was hideous and cute.
C.The garden was hideous and colorful.
D.The book was hideous and interesting.
Step 3: Similar Words
What is a synonym for 'hideous'?
A.Gorgeous
B.Atrocious
C.Lovely
D.Radiant
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is an opposite of 'hideous'?
A.Repulsive
B.Hideous
C.Grotesque
D.Beautiful
Step 5: Mastery
In what situation would you describe something as 'hideous'?
A.An extremely ugly painting
B.A stunning artwork
C.A frightening monster
D.A beautiful sunrise
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