unprepossessing

Examples

• All

• Seligman lived in an unprepossessing brick house east of Ridge.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Yet this unprepossessing craft will be the most famous of all to make the voyage.

  Fiction book (1991)

• How could something as monumental as flight take place in such an unprepossessing space?

  Fiction book (1998)

• Now twenty-three years old, still studious and unprepossessing, he felt no attraction to either the ministry or the law.

  Academic text (1992)

• About a week later, Huston awoke one morning to find a slight, unprepossessing man in odd countryman's clothes at the foot of his bed.

  Academic text (2002)

• In the districts most affected by the boycott, the elections were unprepossessing and almost farcical, with candidates winning based on the votes of a few households or neighborhoods.

  Academic text (1994)

• Although from the exterior the monastery looks unprepossessing, its interior reveals a remarkably complex program of architectural spaces and sculptural details that appears to have followed a carefully constructed pattern.

  Academic text (2008)

• In person, the lecturer seemed to Barker to be an unprepossessing fellow, rather short, with a little beard and a gait that was somehow both pompous and shuffling.

  Fiction book (1997)

• The café looked unprepossessing from the outside, but the food was delicious.

• Despite its unprepossessing exterior, the building housed a vibrant community center.

Synonyms

U

unattractive

vsunprepossessing

37 1.8

Not pleasant to look at or to the senses

is about giving a neutral or unfavourable first impression rather than general plainness

U

unappealing

vsunprepossessing

15 4.1

Not attractive, pleasant, or interesting

leans more on the immediate unfavourable impression than general lack of interest

U

unsightly

vsunprepossessing

15 4.5

Unpleasant to look at

is milder, implying an unimpressive first view rather than strong visual offense

U

unglamorous

vsunprepossessing

4 5.4

Not attractive or exciting and often plain

is about a modest first impression rather than only absence of glamour

U

unbeautiful

vsunprepossessing

1 6.2

Not attractive in looks or style

emphasises the first, neutral or negative impression more than formal beauty standards

I

ill-favored

vsunprepossessing

• US

1 8.0

Not attractive to look at, especially in the face

is broader, applying to the general first impression not only facial looks

U

unimposing

vsunprepossessing

1 6.1

Not attracting attention because it looks plain or simple

focuses on the weak first impression rather than simple modesty of look

U

unpretty

vsunprepossessing

1 5.0

Not pleasant to look at or to be part of

often means a milder, unimpressive first view rather than strong ugliness

U

unhandsome

vsunprepossessing

1 6.6

Not attractive to look at

stresses the overall first impression rather than merely lacking conventional looks

U

unaesthetic

vsunprepossessing

1 8.1

Not pleasant to look at

is about the initial unimpressive feeling rather than aesthetic judgement alone

U

uncharming

vsunprepossessing

1 4.5

Not pleasant to be with or attractive to look at

focuses more on the immediate neutral or negative impression than manner alone

U

uncute

vsunprepossessing

• Informal

1 7.0

Not attractive or charming in an obvious way

relates instead to the overall first impression of not being striking or pleasing

U

unalluring

vsunprepossessing

6.8

Not attractive or interesting

highlights the initial unimpressive effect rather than just low appeal

U

unfavored

vsunprepossessing

• US

5.3

Not attractive to look at

focuses more on the initial neutral or negative impression rather than social preference

Antonyms

A

appealing

138 2.3

Makes people like it, for example a friendly smile or a new idea

P

prepossessing

8.2

Having a pleasant look or manner that gives a good first impression

How Attractive

beautiful

∞ 1.0

attractive

680 1.0

unprepossessing

1 8.2

plain

208 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology