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

Now, the aim is to keep layoffs even more efficient—with fewer chances for ugly public scenes or communal emoting.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mauricio Pochettino's men had successfully held off a determined late assault by Paraguay when things suddenly turned ugly in injury time.

Read more on Barron's

And yet, on an ugly night, that table looked handsome.

Read more on BBC

“All the pajamas were so horribly ugly,” she says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

More than anything, Violent Hour marks a rediscovery of joyful vitality after Harvey’s ugly split with her former metal band, Butcher Babies, which she co-formed and performed in for 14 years.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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