unhomely

unhomely — adjective

  • unhomelypositive
  • more unhomelycomparative
  • most unhomelysuperlative

1. lacking the warmth, comfort, and friendly feeling that make a place feel like a

1.形容詞C2
釋義

lacking the warmth, comfort, and friendly feeling that make a place feel like a home

例句

The bare walls and cold lights made Yan's room feel unhomely.

collocation: feel unhomely

Maja walked into the unhomely hotel lobby and wanted to leave.

attributive use before a noun: unhomely + lobby

同義詞
  • uninviting

    more general; can describe people, weather, or abstract things, not just spaces

  • unwelcoming

    suggests active coldness or hostility, while 'unhomely' is more about a lack of comfort

  • sterile

    emphasises a clinical, impersonal lack of warmth, often in modern or medical settings

反義詞
  • homely

    in its British sense: warm, cosy, and comfortable like a home

  • welcoming
  • cosy

    more focused on physical warmth and snugness than overall atmosphere

文法句型

feel unhomely

strike someone as unhomely

用法筆記

Typically describes physical spaces (rooms, houses, buildings) rather than people. Distinct from 'homely' in its American sense of 'unattractive' — 'unhomely' does not mean 'good-looking.'

常見錯誤

❌People say she looks unhomely, but I think she is pretty.' (using 'unhomely' as the opposite of 'homely' in the American sense of 'unattractive').
✅People say she looks plain, but I think she is pretty.
💡'unhomely' describes spaces that lack warmth, not people's appearance.