Meaning & use
homely
Plain or unattractive in physical appearance, especially of a person's face.
See it in a sentence
He was a homely man, but his kindness made him well liked by everyone.
Some critics called the building homely compared to the sleek towers nearby.
A note on using this word
In American English it usually means unattractive; British English often uses it to mean cozy, like 'homey.'
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. adjective
Simple, comfortable, and cozy like a home.
The bed-and-breakfast had a homely charm, right down to the hand-knit blankets.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “homely”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.