Definition

Noun: 1. The quality or state of being hideous; dreadful ugliness; horrible repulsiveness. It describes an extreme and shocking degree of ugliness or offensiveness that can inspire fear, disgust, or horror.

Usage

The word "hideousness" is a formal noun used to describe an extreme, often shocking, aesthetic quality. It is stronger than words like "ugliness" and implies something is not just unattractive but morally or physically revolting. It is often used in literary, descriptive, or critical contexts.

Examples

• The hideousness of the monster's face made the villagers flee in terror.
• The critic wrote about the architectural hideousness of the new building, calling it a blight on the cityscape.
• She was struck by the sheer hideousness of the crime scene.

Advanced Usage

• Conceptual Hideousness: The term can be applied abstractly to ideas, actions, or situations, not just physical appearance.
• Moral Hideousness: Used to describe the repulsive nature of a person's character or actions.

Variants and Related Words

• Hideous (adjective): Extremely ugly or dreadful.
• Hideously (adverb): In a hideous manner.

Synonyms

• Ugliness: The state of being unpleasant to look at. (Less intense than hideousness)
• Repulsiveness: The quality of causing intense distaste or aversion.
• Monstrosity: The state or fact of being monstrous; great ugliness or wickedness.
• Grotesqueness: The quality of being comically or repulsively ugly or distorted.

Antonyms

• Beauty: A combination of qualities that pleases the aesthetic senses.
• Loveliness: The quality of being very beautiful or attractive.
• Pulchritude (literary): Physical beauty.

Idioms and Phrases

Note: "Hideousness" itself is not commonly used in fixed idioms. However, the adjective "hideous" is. - A hideous sight: Something very unpleasant or shocking to see. Example: The aftermath of the storm was a hideous sight.

Noun

1. dreadful ugliness; horrible repulsiveness