aesthetically challenged
- adjective
- /eɪsˈθɛtɪkli ˈʧælɪndʒd/
- Informal
:
poco atractivo
- Some critics called the new sculpture aesthetically challenged, but others admired its boldness.
Examples
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The website’s outdated layout makes it rather aesthetically challenged compared to its competitors.
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That painting is definitely aesthetically challenged!
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He joked that his old car is aesthetically challenged but still reliable.
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Many people consider my garden to be aesthetically challenged.
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His outfit was aesthetically challenged, making him stand out for all the wrong reasons.
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The building's design was considered aesthetically challenged, failing to blend in with the surrounding architecture.
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Although the painting was aesthetically challenged, many appreciated its unique style and creativity.
Synonyms
37
1.8
Not pleasant to look at or to the senses
1
6.0
Showing little taste or skill in making things look beautiful
1
3.7
Not fashionable or elegant in appearance
Something that is not pretty to look at, for example a town or view
How Aesthetic
∞
1.0
680
1.0
138
2.3
208
1.0
- Informal
Surface Forms
Morphology
aesthetically + challenged
The phrase is largely compositionally predictable: 'aesthetically' = 'in terms of appearance/beauty' and 'challenged' = 'having difficulty', so a learner can infer it means 'having poor visual appeal' or 'not good at aesthetics'. However, the expression is euphemistic/humorous and carries pragmatic nuance (ironic or polite understatement) that may not be fully obvious to a B1 learner, so it is not completely transparent.
Etymology
Aesthetically challenged is a polite, joking way to say something does not look good. It treats aesthetically as 'about looks' and challenged as 'having trouble', so it means 'not very attractive'.