curiouslooking

Curiouslooking refers to something that has a curious or intriguing appearance. In standard English, the common form is curious-looking, a compound adjective formed from curious and looking. It is used before a noun to indicate that the object's appearance invites questions: a curious-looking device, a curious-looking building. When used after a linking verb, it is typically written with a hyphen as a predicate adjective: The device is curious-looking.

Spelling and variants: Most style guides prefer curious-looking for compounds before a noun. The unhyphenated curiouslooking appears mainly in informal contexts or as a brand name; it is rare in formal prose and can reduce readability. Some typography guides note that when used as a predicative complement after a verb, hyphenation helps readability: The device is curious-looking.

Usage and nuance: The term conveys visual appeal or peculiarity rather than a value judgment about quality. It functions as a descriptive modifier rather than a qualitative claim. It is closely related to other -looking adjectives such as odd-looking, strange-looking, or eerie-looking, which share the same structural pattern. In practice, writers may choose alternatives like unusually curious in contexts where a different emphasis is desired. See also curious, odd-looking, strange-looking.