ill-shapen
- adjective
- /ɪlˈʃeɪpən/
- Literature
- The potter was disappointed by the ill-shapen vase that emerged from the kiln.
Examples
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The ancient statue's features were ill-shapen from centuries of erosion.
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His ill-shapen hat barely clung to his head as he walked through the rain.
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That ill-shapen rock is unusual.
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The sculpture was ill-shapen and difficult to recognize.
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The potter was disappointed by the ill-shapen vase that emerged from the kiln.
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The ancient statue's features were ill-shapen from centuries of erosion.
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The sculpture was ill-shapen and difficult to recognize.
Synonyms
Not pleasant to look at
Very ugly and likely to make people feel shocked or disgusted
Not pleasant to look at or to the senses
Unpleasant to look at
Not the normal shape and often looking ugly
A body part or object with a shape that is not normal
Very unpleasant to look at or to be with
Not attractive to look at, especially in the face
Twisted out of shape so it looks ugly or unnatural
Having a shape that is not normal and often looking ugly
A person or thing that looks awkward and not pleasing to the eye
A thing with parts that do not match in size or shape
Antonyms
How Misshapen
Surface Forms
Morphology
ill-shapen = shapen (transparent) = ill + shape + en
The immediate formation ill- + shapen is clear in meaning, but the adjective form 'shapen' is archaic and may be unfamiliar to learners.
Etymology
Ill-shapen comes from two simple parts: ill- meaning 'bad' and shapen, from shape, meaning 'form'. So it literally means 'badly shaped', which is why we use it for things that are badly formed or look unattractive.