ugly
very unattractive or unpleasant to look at; offensive to the sense of beauty; displeasing in appearance.
disagreeable; unpleasant; objectionable: ugly tricks;ugly discords.
morally revolting: ugly crime.
threatening trouble or danger: ugly symptoms.
mean; hostile; quarrelsome: an ugly mood;an ugly frame of mind.
(especially of natural phenomena) unpleasant or dangerous: ugly weather;an ugly sea.
Origin of ugly
1Other words for ugly
Opposites for ugly
Other words from ugly
- ug·li·ly, adverb
- ug·li·ness, noun
- su·per·ug·ly, adjective
Words Nearby ugly
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use ugly in a sentence
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.
What Can Mayors Do When the Police Stop Doing Their Jobs? | by Alec MacGillis | September 3, 2020 | ProPublicaWe’re not sitting here in 10 years talking about this partisanship that is so ugly in this country.
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.
Depending on your taste, the monster group is either the prettiest or the ugliest object in all mathematics.
We’re living through what Yang calls “a war on normal people” — a war that Yang fears is getting uglier all the time.
Why Is This Man Running for President? (Ep. 362 Update) | Stephen J. Dubner | December 19, 2019 | Freakonomics
Some longtime local acquaintances are struggling to square the man they know with the ugly associations.
No. 3 Republican Admits Talking to White Supremacist Conference | Tim Mak | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOf those, 1,980 used the term “cute”, while just 12 mentioned the word “ugly”.
Two seasons ago, the show killed off its main romantic interest, Matthew Crawley, in an ugly car accident.
‘The Walking Dead’ Fans Demand: Bring Back Beth! | Melissa Leon | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHow could you take such ugly pictures of a beautiful place?
After mom cries out in anguish and frustration on hearing the verdict, the ugly side of the protests rears its head.
Michael Brown’s Stepfather Tells Crowd, ‘Burn This Bitch Down’ | Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA gentleman expatiating upon the good looks of women, declared that he had never yet seen an ugly woman.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousOne Turkish Company, about a hundred strong, was making an ugly push within rifle shot of our ship.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonShe looked Mariequita up and down, from her ugly brown toes to her pretty black eyes, and back again.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinI was perfectly amazed to see how many little ugly habits I had to correct of which I had not been the least aware.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayHe would at once become stubborn and ugly, because he is not used to our quick, nervous, impatient ways.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin | Mary Hazelton Wade
British Dictionary definitions for ugly
/ (ˈʌɡlɪ) /
of unpleasant or unsightly appearance
repulsive, objectionable, or displeasing in any way: war is ugly
ominous or menacing: an ugly situation
bad-tempered, angry, or sullen: an ugly mood
Origin of ugly
1Derived forms of ugly
- uglily, adverb
- ugliness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with ugly
In addition to the idioms beginning with ugly
- ugly as sin
- ugly customer
- ugly duckling
also see:
- rear its ugly head
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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