eyesore
C1Informal to neutral. Common in speech and descriptive writing.
Definition
Meaning
A building, structure, or object that is extremely ugly or unpleasant to look at.
A person or thing considered offensive, objectionable, or jarring to one's aesthetic sensibilities.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always used pejoratively; combines visual perception with emotional reaction (disgust/annoyance).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage; concept is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British English for describing urban decay; slightly more emotive/colloquial in American usage.
Frequency
Similar moderate frequency; perhaps slightly more frequent in British journalism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be an eyesoreconsider something an eyesoreregard as an eyesorebecome an eyesoreVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a blot on the landscape (near-synonymous idiom)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in property development, tourism, or urban planning contexts to describe developments that harm property values or aesthetics.
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing; may appear in architectural criticism, urban studies, or sociology.
Everyday
Common for complaining about ugly buildings, messy gardens, or poorly maintained public spaces.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (N/A - not a verb)
American English
- (N/A - not a verb)
adverb
British English
- (N/A - not an adverb)
American English
- (N/A - not an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (N/A - not an adjective). Can be used attributively: 'an eyesore building'.
American English
- (N/A - not an adjective). Can be used attributively: 'an eyesore property'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old, broken car in the garden is an eyesore.
- Many people think the new shopping centre is a real eyesore.
- The derelict factory had become such an eyesore that the council finally decided to demolish it.
- While praised for its engineering, the bridge's brutalist design was widely regarded as an architectural eyesore that marred the historic skyline.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Something that makes your EYES feel SORE to look at because it's so ugly.
Conceptual Metaphor
UGLINESS IS PHYSICAL PAIN / AESTHETIC OFFENSE IS PHYSICAL OFFENSE (c.f. 'painful to look at').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'глазное яблоко' (eyeball). Literal translation 'язва для глаз' is not an idiom. The standard Russian equivalent is 'безобразие' or 'уродство'.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a positive term (e.g., *'a beautiful eyesore'). Incorrect spelling: *'eye sore'. Incorrect plural: *'eyesores' (correct: 'eyesores'). Using for a person considered morally ugly (possible but rare/extended).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'eyesore' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely and usually considered offensive. Its primary use is for objects, buildings, or landscapes.
It is a single, closed compound noun: 'eyesore'.
The plural is 'eyesores' (e.g., 'The city was full of architectural eyesores').
Not a direct antonymic compound. Terms like 'eye candy', 'delight', or 'beauty' serve as conceptual opposites.
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