ugly

[ uhg-lee ]

adjective

, ug·li·er, ug·li·est.

1. very unattractive or unpleasant to look at; offensive to the sense of beauty; displeasing in appearance.

   Synonyms: uncomely, homely, unlovely, unsightly, hard-featured, ill-favored

   Antonyms: beautiful

2. disagreeable; unpleasant; objectionable:

   ugly tricks;

   ugly discords.

3. morally revolting:

   ugly crime.

   Synonyms: corrupt, monstrous, vile, heinous, base

4. threatening trouble or danger:

   ugly symptoms.

   Synonyms: ominous, disadvantageous

5. mean; hostile; quarrelsome:

   an ugly mood;

   an ugly frame of mind.

   Synonyms: spiteful, surly

6. (especially of natural phenomena) unpleasant or dangerous:

   ugly weather;

   an ugly sea.

   Synonyms: tempestuous, stormy

ugly

/ ˈʌɡlɪ /

adjective

1. of unpleasant or unsightly appearance
2. repulsive, objectionable, or displeasing in any way

   war is ugly

3. ominous or menacing

   an ugly situation

4. bad-tempered, angry, or sullen

   an ugly mood

Derived Forms

• ˈuglily, adverb
• ˈugliness, noun

Other Words From

• ugli·ly adverb
• ugli·ness noun
• super·ugly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ugly¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English ugly, uglike, from Old Norse uggligr “fearful, dreadful,” equivalent to ugg(r) “fear” + -ligr -ly

Word History and Origins

Origin of ugly¹

C13: from Old Norse uggligr dreadful, from ugga fear

Idioms and Phrases

• rear its ugly head

Example Sentences

“Going through an ugly divorce while I was in the public eye as a Christian artist — rocks would have been thrown at me,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

For the third year in a row, Jay Leno is bouncing back after an ugly injury.

From Los Angeles Times

The decades since the ban have been marked with ugly, sometimes violent, clashes between hunts and saboteur groups - who accuse them of breaking the law.

From BBC

Andy Farrell called it "three or four games in one" and, as such, there was good, bad and ugly in the host's performance.

From BBC

These include calling pro-choice protesters fat and ugly, defending the racist and antisemitic “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, and associating with Holocaust deniers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dirty
• disgusting
• distasteful
• hideous
• horrid
• messy
• nasty
• shocking
• sordid
• terrible
• vile