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ill-favored

ill-favored

1 8.0
Not attractive to look at, especially in the face
  • adjective
  • /ˌɪlˈfeɪvərd/
  • US
translation icon : desagradable
  • Afagddu was the most ill-favored man in the world.
  • old and ill-favored

Examples

  • Despite her ill-favored looks, she had a charming personality that won everyone over.

  • The actor was criticized for his ill-favored appearance in the latest film.

  • Sometimes the most ill-favored are full of the milk of human kindness.

    Academic text (2000)
  • He had an ill-favored look.

  • ''An ill-favored thing, sir.

  • It was a black, ill-favored fly, like to the empress' Moor.

  • A tall, straight-bodied, and by no means ill-favored young Highlander at close range is breathtaking.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • A Highlander in full regalia is an impressive sight—any Highlander, no matter how old, ill-favored, or crabbed in appearance.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The episode in which the boy, who has already been greatly impressed by the Breton, discovers this shelter and the man's inspired charity toward the most ill-favored of the city constitutes a splendidly wrought moment of discovery.

    Blog text (21)
  • The old painting depicted an ill-favored man with deep lines etched across his face.

Synonyms

hideous
vsill-favored
171 5.1

Very ugly and likely to make people feel shocked or disgusted

describes a milder unpleasant facial appearance instead of horror
unattractive
vsill-favored
37 1.8

Not pleasant to look at or to the senses

is mainly about an unpleasant look of the face
unsightly
vsill-favored
15 4.5

Unpleasant to look at

is more focused on an unpleasant face rather than other objects
ugly as sin
vsill-favored
  • Offensive
2 7.2

Very unpleasant to look at or to be with

is milder, used for a generally unpleasant facial appearance
unprepossessing
vsill-favored
1 8.2

Not attractive or impressive to look at

focuses on an immediately unpleasant face rather than a mild first impression
unbeautiful
vsill-favored
1 6.2

Not attractive in looks or style

highlights an unpleasant facial appearance not general plainness
unpretty
vsill-favored
1 5.0

Not pleasant to look at or to be part of

often refers specifically to an unpleasant face or expression
unlovely
vsill-favored
1 6.0

Not attractive and unpleasant to see or hear

is used for an unpleasant facial appearance especially
unhandsome
vsill-favored
1 6.6

Not attractive to look at

focuses on an unpleasant facial look rather than plainness
unfavored
vsill-favored
  • US
5.3

Not attractive to look at

is about an unpleasant facial look rather than a general plain look
ill-shapen
vsill-favored
  • Literature
8.5

Not in a regular or attractive form

applies more to an unpleasant facial appearance than mere misshaping
loathly
vsill-favored
  • Archaic
9.9

Very unpleasant and likely to make people feel disgusted

is milder and limited to an unpleasant facial look

Antonyms

680 1.0

Pleasing to look at or enjoy and making people interested

Has a nice face that people like

How Attractive

beautiful
1.0
attractive
680 1.0
ill-favored
  • US
1 8.0
plain
50 2.5
unattractive
37 1.8
ugly
866 1.0
hideous
171 5.1

Surface Forms

ill-favored positive
ill-favoured positive

Morphology

ill-favored = favored (semi-transparent) = ill + favored

The structure 'ill-' + 'favored' is clear, but 'favored' in the sense 'attractive' is somewhat dated so learners may not fully predict 'unattractive'.

Etymology

Ill-favored is made of ill- meaning 'bad' and favored meaning 'having a pleasing look', a use of 'favor' that once pointed to appearance. So, ill-favored means someone with a 'bad-looking' or unpleasant appearance, especially of the face.