less hideous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less hideous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two or more things, indicating that one is not as ugly or unpleasant as another. Example: "The new design is less hideous than the previous version, making it more appealing to customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Through a porthole I could see Puno; less hideous from a distance.

The Guardian - Travel

The worse he looks, the less hideous the shooting will seem.

The New York Times

ASHF asks: Are the masks less hideous than your real faces?

The Guardian - Music

We settled on casual, which looked marginally less hideous than sport or sandal.

The New York Times - Style

Fortunately, an effort was clearly in progress to make the glasses less hideous — or even to eliminate them altogether.

The New York Times - Tech

It demonstrates the widening of cultural horizons and the onset of a sort of globalisation – gruesome medieval renderings of mythical monsters, for example, became far less hideous as adventurers began to bring reports and evidence of real exotic creatures back from their travels.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The prototype it's showing is a lot less bulky and hideous than most people feared; the transparent screen is off to one side, not directly in front of your eye.

The New York Times

Although the less said about the hideous London 2012 logo the better.

The New York Times - Arts

But the city then spreads out into the less quaint: rock quarries, hideous slums, paddy fields, clusters of factories.

The New York Times

At a future Creators Project event, someone should project visual music on large public infrastructure like the Brooklyn Bridge or the hideous window-less Verizon facility in lower manhattan and simulcast the soundtrack on radio and the Internet so the whole city can "tune in".

Vice

It has all the design advantages of the real thing with none of the drawbacks – never mind getting the train home for Christmas, this is a cheaper and less-prone-to-hideous-overcrowding version.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less hideous" when comparing two or more things and wanting to express that one is not as unpleasant or ugly as the other. This avoids overly harsh language while still conveying a negative assessment of appearance.

Common error

While "less hideous" is acceptable, it's often too informal or subjective for formal writing. In professional or academic contexts, opt for more neutral and objective language like "more functional", "improved", or "redesigned" to describe changes or improvements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less hideous" functions as an adjectival phrase used to qualify a noun by indicating a reduced degree of unattractiveness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase follows standard grammar rules and can be used to express that something is not as ugly as something else. The examples provided by Ludwig AI illustrate this use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less hideous" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to convey that something is not as ugly or unpleasant as something else. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase follows standard grammar rules. While its usage is relatively uncommon, the examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its presence in journalistic and informal contexts. It is most frequently encountered in "News & Media". When writing, consider the formality of the context: while "less hideous" is acceptable, alternative phrases like "more functional" or "improved in appearance" may be more appropriate for formal or professional settings. Always consider your audience and the specific nuance you want to convey when choosing between "less hideous" and similar expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not quite so ugly

Directly contrasts with "ugly", indicating a reduction in ugliness.

not as unsightly

Replaces "hideous" with "unsightly", softening the negative connotation.

not as grotesque

Replaces "hideous" with "grotesque", which can imply a more extreme level of unpleasantness.

not as repulsive

Uses "repulsive" instead of "hideous", suggesting something that causes disgust.

somewhat more attractive

Uses a positive term ("attractive") with a qualifier ("somewhat") to indicate a slight improvement.

marginally better-looking

Emphasizes the slight degree of improvement in appearance.

somewhat improved in appearance

Highlights that an improvement has occurred, even if it is not drastic.

slightly more appealing

Indicates a mild increase in attractiveness or interest.

a bit more presentable

Focuses on the acceptability of the appearance rather than its attractiveness.

a shade more beautiful

Emphasizes the small degree of improvement using "shade".

FAQs

How can I use "less hideous" in a sentence?

You can use "less hideous" to compare the unpleasantness of two things, like "The new interface is "less hideous" than the old one".

What's a more formal alternative to "less hideous"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "more functional", "more attractive", or "improved in appearance" instead of "less hideous".

Is "less hideous" grammatically correct?

Yes, "less hideous" is grammatically correct. The adverb "less" is correctly modifying the adjective "hideous" to indicate a lower degree of ugliness.

What's the difference between "less hideous" and "more attractive"?

"Less hideous" implies a reduction in ugliness, while "more attractive" suggests an increase in beauty or appeal. The former focuses on minimizing the negative, and the latter emphasizes enhancing the positive.