ill-favoured
/'il'feivəd/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Unattractive or unpleasant in appearance: Used to describe someone or something, especially a face or facial features, that is considered ugly or displeasing to look at.
- Unpleasant or disagreeable: Can also describe something that is generally unpleasant or offensive in nature.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The story described the villain as an ill-favoured man with a cruel smile.
- She was unfairly dismissed for her ill-favoured appearance, despite her competence.
- The critics panned the ill-favoured design of the new public building.
Advanced Usage
- "ill-favoured of feature": Having unattractive facial features.
- Though ill-favoured of feature, he possessed a remarkable intellect and kindness.
- "ill-favoured by nature": Naturally unattractive or unpleasant.
- The land was ill-favoured by nature, rocky and barren.
Variants and Related Words
- Ill-favored (adj): The American English spelling of 'ill-favoured'.
- Ill-favouredness (n, rare): The state or quality of being ill-favoured.
- Disfavoured (adj, less common): Regarded or treated with disapproval. (Note: This is a distinct word with a different primary meaning related to preference, not appearance).
Synonyms
- Unattractive: Not pleasing to look at.
- Homely: Plain or unattractive in appearance (common in American English).
- Plain: Not beautiful or attractive (often less harsh).
- Ugly: Very unattractive or unpleasant to look at (stronger and more direct).
Antonyms
- Handsome: Good-looking.
- Attractive: Pleasing in appearance.
- Fair: Beautiful or pleasing to look at (archaic or literary).
Notes on Usage
- The term ill-favoured is somewhat old-fashioned or literary in modern English. It is more commonly found in classic literature or formal descriptions.
- It is typically used in written English rather than in everyday conversation, where words like 'unattractive' or 'plain' are more common.
- The hyphen is standard in British English ('ill-favoured'), while American English often uses 'ill-favored'.
Adjective
-
usually used of a face
-
an ill-favored countenance
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