unpretty

English

Etymology 1

From un- +‎ pretty (adjective).

Adjective

unpretty (comparative unprettier, superlative unprettiest)

1. Not pretty.
   • 1999, TLC (band), Unpretty (song)

     I wish I could tie you up in my shoes, / Make you feel unpretty too. / I was told I was beautiful / But what does that mean to you?

   • 2008 March 29, Andy Newman, “Eight Undeveloped Acres and Secret Videotapes Figure in Official’s Trial”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     It is bounded […] by Conduit Avenue, the unpretty highway that moves Brooklyn traffic to Kennedy International Airport.

Synonyms

• unlovely

Etymology 2

From un- +‎ pretty (verb).

Verb

unpretty (third-person singular simple present unpretties, present participle unprettying, simple past and past participle unprettied)

1. (transitive) To make unpretty or less attractive
   • 2006, Leigh Montville, The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth:

     Vast gloom unprettied the features of Herman Ruth today when he gave himself to serious contemplation of the distressing futility of many things and how increasingly tough it's becoming for an honest feller to get along in this wearying world.

   • 2011, Ira Sukrungruang, Talk Thai: The Adventures of Buddhist Boy:

     I turned toward him. I wanted to unpretty Simon's prettiness—bloody his outfit, crush his nose, and knock out his teeth.

   • 2013, Marc Maron, Attempting Normal:

     I looked around and saw a blond woman wearing old-lady glasses and sitting by herself. It was her. The woman from the modeling spread. It's always a little silly to see pretty women trying to unpretty themselves with glasses.