An eyesore is something so ugly or unpleasant to look at that it bothers you every time you see it. The word combines “eye” and “sore” to suggest that looking at something actually hurts, like having a sore on your body.

That abandoned house with broken windows and peeling paint on your street? That's an eyesore. The rusty old car that's been sitting in someone's driveway for years? An eyesore. Even something as simple as a bright orange stain on your favorite white shirt can be an eyesore.

The word often describes buildings or objects that clash with their surroundings or look neglected. A shiny new shopping mall might fit perfectly in one neighborhood but stick out as an eyesore in a historic district with century-old brick buildings. A pile of trash on an otherwise beautiful beach becomes an obvious eyesore that ruins the view.

People have different opinions about what counts as an eyesore. Your neighbor might think their pink flamingo lawn decorations are charming, while you consider them an eyesore. But many people agree that eyesores, like graffiti-covered walls or crumbling structures, make a place look worse instead of better.