US /ˈaɪsɔɹ/ UK /ˈaɪsɔː/
noun Freq #29820

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a thing that is conspicuously ugly or unpleasant to look at

    The abandoned concrete tower had become an eyesore for the whole neighborhood.

  2. 2
    noun

    a thing regarded as offensive, objectionable, or persistently irritating

    The badly drafted will had long been an eyesore to the lawyer.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a thing that is... ugly sightblotmonstrosity
2 noun · a thing regarded as... annoyanceoffense
Opposites
Word family
Related forms soreunsightly

Etymology

From Middle English eye sore, literally 'a sore of the eye.' The expression shifted from an ailment affecting sight to something that figuratively pains the eye because it is conspicuously ugly or objectionable.

Topics

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