ugly

[uhg-lee]

adjective

uglier, ugliest 

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

   Synonyms: homely, unlovely, unsightly, uncomely, 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

Other Word Forms

• uglily adverb
• ugliness noun
• superugly 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

A report from the CST, issued this week into ugly scenes at the Conference League semi-final second leg against Djurgarden last season, found safety had been "repeatedly compromised" at the match.

From BBC

But there’s always a less indecent, a less callous, a less ugly way.

From Los Angeles Times

"This is going to be an incredible defensive match-up. Sometimes finals can be very ugly games and not always pretty games with loads of tries."

From BBC

"It got ugly, somebody shouted out and didn't allow me to hit my tee shot," he recalled.

From BBC

And a lack of consensus too about how we can set apart the unpleasant, offensive, ugly and hateful things said online from those that are genuinely threatening or dangerous.

From BBC

Related Words

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