Skip to main content
ill-proportioned

ill-proportioned

6.7
A thing with parts that do not match in size or shape
  • adjective
  • /ˌɪl prəˈpɔrʃənd/
translation icon : desproporcionado
  • This expression of affection, which his ill-proportioned body couldn't possibly have inspired, drove Oscar to his room.

Examples

  • Despite its beauty, the ill-proportioned design made it uncomfortable to sit on.

  • As for the house that she had transformed, turning it back to front and opening out all the poky and ill-proportioned rooms.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • A post-Soviet addition to the square, it's an ill-proportioned monument whose column dwarfs the less-than-life-sized figure on top.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The sculpture was criticized for being ill-proportioned, with its oversized head and tiny limbs.

  • The dress failed to flatter her figure because it was ill-proportioned for her body shape.

Synonyms

out of proportion
vsill-proportioned
54 4.6

Too strong or big compared with what the situation needs

refers to poor pleasing balance within the object's own shape rather than exaggeration
disproportionate
vsill-proportioned
47 5.9

Too large or small compared with what is fair

points to lack of pleasing balance in shape rather than relative excess
uneven
vsill-proportioned
42 2.3

Not smooth or level, with parts higher and lower

is about overall disharmony of form rather than surface irregularity
asymmetrical
vsill-proportioned
18 6.1

Having parts that are not the same size or shape

concerns overall pleasing balance of shape rather than only side differences
unbalanced
vsill-proportioned
14 3.8

Not steady in position, health, or feeling

means the shape fails to please because proportions are disharmonious rather than unstable
imbalanced
vsill-proportioned
8 4.6

Not even in the way parts or people are placed

describes visual displeasure from poor proportions rather than physical instability
disproportional
vsill-proportioned
1 6.7

Being too large or too small compared with something else

describes poor pleasing balance in overall form rather than just size comparison
unproportioned
vsill-proportioned
1 7.2

Not having the right size or shape compared to other parts

is the same idea expressed with a different phrasing
incommensurate
vsill-proportioned
  • Formal
1 9.9

Not the same in size or importance as something else

relates to internal lack of harmonious pleasing proportions rather than external mismatch
misproportioned
vsill-proportioned
7.4

Having parts of different sizes so it looks unbalanced

focuses on unpleasant or disharmonious overall appearance rather than just size error
unshapely
vsill-proportioned
6.7

A person or thing that looks awkward and not pleasing to the eye

emphasizes general lack of harmony in proportions rather than ugliness alone
ill-shapen
vsill-proportioned
  • Literature
8.5

Not in a regular or attractive form

highlights displeasing proportion and harmony rather than gross deformity
nonsymmetrical
vsill-proportioned
5.1

Not the same on both sides in shape or design

is about failing to look harmonious overall, not just axis imbalance
unsymmetrical
vsill-proportioned
6.9

Different on each side

focuses on general lack of harmonious proportions rather than symmetry alone
underbalanced
vsill-proportioned
6.7

Not steady enough to stay in place when moving

concerns visual disproportion and lack of harmonious form rather than operational imbalance

Antonyms

25 4.1

A shape or object that has matching parts on both sides when you cut it down the middle

Parts are the right size and look balanced

How Proportioned

proportioned
1 3.7
ill-proportioned
6.7
misshapen
14 4.7

Surface Forms

ill-proportioned positive

Morphology

ill-proportioned = proportioned (transparent) = ill + proportion + ed

The negative prefix 'ill-' combines with 'proportioned' to mean 'not well proportioned' in a fully compositional way.

Etymology

Ill-proportioned comes from ill, meaning 'badly', and proportion, meaning 'the size or balance of parts'. So it describes something whose parts do not look balanced or pleasing.