Hideous
WordNet
adjective
(1) So extremely ugly as to be terrifying
"A hideous scar"
"A repulsive mask"
(2) Grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
"Subjected to outrageous cruelty"
"A hideous pattern of injustice"
"Horrific conditions in the mining industry"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
hidous, hidous, hidos, hidus, hisdos, hisdous, hideux: confer hide, ; of uncertain origin; confer , or hispidosus for , hispid.
Adjective
- Frightful, shocking, or offensive to the eyes; dreadful to behold; as, a hideous monster; hideous looks.
- A piteous and hideous spectacle." Thomas Babington Macaulay.
- Distressing or offensive to the ear; exciting terror or dismay; as, a hideous noise.
- Hideous cries.
- 1719: Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
- He started up, growling at first, but finding his leg broken, fell down again; and then got upon three legs, and gave the most hideous roar that ever I heard.
- Hateful; shocking.
- Sure, you have some hideous matter to deliver. -