ugh

American  

[ookh, uhkh, uh, oo, uhg] / ʊx, ʌx, ʌ, ʊ, ʌg /

interjection

1. (used as an exclamation expressing disgust, aversion, horror, or the like.)

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noun

1. the sound of a cough, grunt, or the like.

ugh British  

/ ʊx, ʊh, ʌh /

interjection

1. an exclamation of disgust, annoyance, or dislike

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Etymology

Origin of ugh

First recorded in 1670–80, of expressive origin

Example Sentences

The track is so unapologetically — ugh, cringe word, I know — Mexican.

From Los Angeles Times

The officer texted back immediately: “Ugh, got cold feet? Maybe reset and try again?”

From The Wall Street Journal

They all seem fine, and Jonesy always says I can hang with them too, but… Ugh.

From Literature

“I…I just don’t know if I can do it. He thinks I can get ranked nationally. He spends all of his free time thinking about it and talking about it. It makes me sick to tell him that I really just want to play for fun. I feel like he’ll get upset or mad or—ugh—heartbroken. I don’t think I can stand to see the disappointment in his face. It might break my heart.”

From Literature

Welty balked at this suggestion, which would have undone a carefully constructed scene: “Ugh! How far could such ‘editing’ lead?

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cry
• exclamation
• expletive
• insertion
• interpolation
• interposition
• shout