homelier; homeliest
Synonyms of homely
1
: suggestive or characteristic of a place of residence or home
2
: being something familiar with which a person is comfortable and at ease : comfortable and familiar like home
… satisfy themselves with houses, furniture, books and clothes that were worn and homely and friendly to the touch.Brendan Gill
3
a
: free from affectation : unaffectedly natural : simple
plain, homely prose
b
: not elaborate or complex
homely virtues
4
: plain or unattractive in appearance
a homely face
he's a bit homely
homeliness noun

Examples of homely in a Sentence

She has a homely face. He's a bit homely but nice. the homely appeal of farm life
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The nightingale glanced at her small and homely child in mild surprise, as did the page. Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025 There’s a touch of homely comfort, with a bespoke kitchen flowing into a cosy dining alcove—perfect for breakfasts or candlelit meals in. Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 19 Dec. 2025 With pale, irregular surfaces dotted with black bits of char, the homely slabs aren’t much to look at, but the first bite packs a big smoky punch that only grows with each subsequent chew. Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025 Perhaps the homeliest dish is Karlsson’s ‘genius’ oatmeal porridge. Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for homely

Word History

Etymology

Middle English homly, homely "belonging to a household, used at home, close, intimate, meek, tame, common, unattractive," from hom home entry 1 + -ly -ly entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of homely was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Homely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homely. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

homely

adjective
homelier; homeliest
1
: characteristic of home life
homely meals
2
: not pretty or handsome
a homely person
homeliness noun

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