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

You can’t have it both ways — call us and we come to do our job, but then if our job gets ugly, we’re the bad guys.

From ProPublica

We’re not sitting here in 10 years talking about this partisanship that is so ugly in this country.

From Ozy

The coronavirus is the immediate cause, as it has severely disrupted societies globally and brought with it isolation and death, while laying bare the ugly side of governments, companies and leaders.

From Digiday

Depending on your taste, the monster group is either the prettiest or the ugliest object in all mathematics.

From Quanta Magazine

We’re living through what Yang calls “a war on normal people” — a war that Yang fears is getting uglier all the time.

From Freakonomics

Some longtime local acquaintances are struggling to square the man they know with the ugly associations.

From The Daily Beast

Of those, 1,980 used the term “cute”, while just 12 mentioned the word “ugly”.

From The Daily Beast

Two seasons ago, the show killed off its main romantic interest, Matthew Crawley, in an ugly car accident.

From The Daily Beast

How could you take such ugly pictures of a beautiful place?

From The Daily Beast

After mom cries out in anguish and frustration on hearing the verdict, the ugly side of the protests rears its head.

From The Daily Beast

A gentleman expatiating upon the good looks of women, declared that he had never yet seen an ugly woman.

From Project Gutenberg

One Turkish Company, about a hundred strong, was making an ugly push within rifle shot of our ship.

From Project Gutenberg

She looked Mariequita up and down, from her ugly brown toes to her pretty black eyes, and back again.

From Project Gutenberg

I was perfectly amazed to see how many little ugly habits I had to correct of which I had not been the least aware.

From Project Gutenberg

He would at once become stubborn and ugly, because he is not used to our quick, nervous, impatient ways.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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