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homely

homely

9 4.1
Comfortable and simple in a warm, friendly way
  • adjective
  • /ˈhoʊmli/
  • UK
: acogedor
  • The Xuhui branch's two cats add to the homely feel of the place.
  • homely kitchen
  • homely face
  • homely girl

We so need our homely kind of like comforts to thrive.

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Examples

  • The cozy living room felt homely with its warm colors and comfortable furniture.

  • I always kind of make everything as nice and kind of homely as possible, but then I don't actually know if other people notice those things.

  • Place is looking really homely, Max...

  • I want a nice, homely girl who likes to raise a family and dogs and that kind of thing.

  • Every other house in this homely borough holds the ghost of someone he once knew who is now gone.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • It feels so homely and lovely Little desk.

  • A Saturday night, a homely macaroni and cheese evening on the phone with my mom ten states away.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Radio speakers use an intimate and homely language when they refer to provincial customs.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Maribeth is a homely, sincere girl who glides around mooning, pining, and reading bad poetry chapbooks.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • After a long day, I love coming home to my homely kitchen where I can cook and relax.

Synonyms

cozy
vshomely
  • Literature
143 1.6

Warm and comfortable in a small friendly place

focuses more on plainness and lack of ornament than on warmth
homey
vshomely
  • US
24 3.5

Makes people feel comfortable and welcome like being at home

adds plain unelaborate character beyond mere warmth
homespun
vshomely
4 7.1

Simple and plain in a country way

is less about rustic character and more about plain cozy comfort
home-style
vshomely
4 3.4

Food made simply the way your family cooks

is not limited to food and covers places and plain comfort
homestyle
vshomely
1 3.8

Food or rooms that feel warm and make you comfortable

is broader applying to places and plain appearance too
homy
vshomely
  • Informal
1 4.8

A small, warm, comfortable feeling like being in your house

is broader adding plainness or lack of showiness to comfort
homelike
vshomely
1 2.7

Comfortable and cozy like you are in your own house

is more general and also means plain or not showy
unfancy
vshomely
1 3.4

Plain and simple, not expensive or decorated

adds cozy comfort and domestic warmth beyond mere plainness

Antonyms

163 3.3

Having an attractive, stylish look that shows good taste

50 6.2

A work with deep, not obvious ideas that interest thoughtful people

How Cozy

homely
  • UK
9 4.1
comfortable
488 1.0
plain
180 1.0
spartan
11 7.7

Surface Forms

homely positive
homely positive

Morphology

homely = home (transparent) = home + ly

Formed regularly from 'home' + '-ly', meaning 'like or characteristic of home', so learners knowing 'home' can infer the sense.

Etymology

Homely comes from home + -ly, which together mean 'like home'. So it originally described something 'like home'—simple, cosy and comfortable—and that is why a homely room feels welcoming and plain.