hideousness

noun

Definition of hideousnessnext
1
as in dreadfulness
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay the indescribable hideousness of the squalor in which the villagers are forced to live

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in badness
the state or quality of being utterly evil the hideousness of the defendant's alleged crimes should not prevent him from getting a fair trial

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hideousness What makes your own skin crawl isn’t just the hideousness of the violence but the unblinking matter-of-factness with which DaCosta films it. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hideousness
  1. horror
  2. badness
  3. atrocity
  4. sinfulness
  5. awfulness
  6. evilness
  7. ghastliness
  8. vileness
Noun
  • This article contains spoilers from popular horror movies and shows.
    — Arryn Robbins, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026
  • First introduced in Stephen King’s 1974 novel, Carrie, the character was immortalized in director Brian De Palma’s 1976 adaptation, widely regarded as one of the best horror films of all time.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of horror
Noun
  • Leaping around in time, Gilroy draws us into Alex’s world with an effervescent wink at the badness of his behavior.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • On one side, a satanic figure named Randall Flagg who gathers his forces of badness to Las Vegas; on the other, the good guys, led by 108-year-old Mother Abigail in, of all places, Boulder.
    — Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Definition of badness
Noun
  • Comparing the administration's fight to protect women and women's spaces from males to rape, is utterly disgusting and actually devalues those atrocities and crimes against actual women.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The state and town have made efforts to atone for the atrocities over the past centuries.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of atrocity
Noun
  • But soon after, in Genesis 18, God tells Abraham of plans to investigate reports of sinfulness in Sodom and Gomorrah.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.
    — Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of sinfulness
Noun
  • An offense run by a coach of McVay's stature should not struggle in as many basic aspects as this one did Sunday — and much of that awfulness was due to McVay's erratic play-calling and Stafford's inconsistent decisions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In a world so full of dread and awfulness, why not take a moment to read anonymous petty literary gossip on the internet?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of awfulness
Noun
  • That was really what helped me into the character and into her evilness.
    — William Earl, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
Definition of evilness
Noun
  • No amount of gore or ghastliness is off limits for the series, produced by horror champions Blumhouse, as Nicole Kidman's titular medical examiner pores over the remains of the dead.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of ghastliness
Noun
  • Many have used numbers and moral philosophy to fathom the vileness of slavery in America, for example.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of vileness

Browse Nearby Words

hideous
hideousness
hideout
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Cite this Entry

“Hideousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hideousness. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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