1
as in hideous
unpleasant to look at
her first attempt at painting was pretty ugly—a portrait of her sister that was not at all flattering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
an ugly suggestion for controlling the overpopulation of deer in the area
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
an ugly scar
an ugly scene
an ugly truth
an ugly word
an ugly picture
an unattractive picture
an unlovely picture
an unpleasant picture
an unappealing picture
a hideous picture
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ugly
Computers were ugly hulking gray or beige boxes then, taking up so much desk space.
—
Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Warren Buffett , who came into 2025 with the most cash he’s ever owned, is now presented with an ugly market meltdown and extreme volatility — an environment where he’s known to thrive.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025
Consider this: Consider this ugly (in more than one way) picture of what happened to the French franc.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
The first outcome would be a massive win for the United States, while the second would likely be far uglier.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Warren Buffett , who came into 2025 with the most cash he’s ever owned, is now presented with an ugly market meltdown and extreme volatility — an environment where he’s known to thrive.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025
Consider this: Consider this ugly (in more than one way) picture of what happened to the French franc.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
The first outcome would be a massive win for the United States, while the second would likely be far uglier.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ugly
Adjective
-
PreSonus has also added something called a soft start circuit that stops the speakers from making the hideous thumping sound that some speakers can produce when they are turned on or off.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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It must be emphasized that these companies are not just enabling hideous criminal activity, but directly profiting from it.—
Aaron Ping,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
These were disgusting, irresponsible comments by someone who is charged with overseeing public health for hundreds of millions of people.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Do not tell the patient disgusting hospital stories about your own operations or procedures.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
When caterpillars retreat to their cocoons, part of the process of transformation can be aesthetically unbecoming and grotesque.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Beyond the chaotic rise of every brood lies one of nature’s most grotesque manipulations — a horrid affair that keeps this species alive against the odds.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Players who are in strong lineups on teams prone to having awful lineups on the floor in the same games are prone to having skewed impact numbers.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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And the awful topper came in his Arizona Fall League debut, where the Thomas Jefferson High School product was torched by some of baseball’s best prospects and didn’t make it out of the first inning.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Smears on non-sensor areas of the tiara are like bug debris on your hood, aesthetically unpleasing but not harmful.—
Eric Tegler,
Popular Mechanics,
1 Oct. 2019
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His side's inability to finish off the game against Burnley on the other hand was very unpleasing.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
1 Feb. 2018
Adjective
-
Wade has been in a horrible slump since the season started and going in to Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels is hitting .096 (5-for-52) with a homer, seven RBIs, eight walks and an on base percentage of .213.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
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The Braves desperately need to add a shortstop and some offensive help amid their horrible start to the season.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As far back as 2002, a study published in the journal Animal Welfare looking at the behavior of 97 dogs in a rescue center concluded that extended periods of time in a shelter often led to canines behaving in a manner deemed unattractive to potential adopters.—
Jack Beresford,
Newsweek,
9 Mar. 2025
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What makes these plants unattractive to deer—prickly or hairy stems or leaves, a pungent scent, or a covering of fuzzy hairs—is a win for your garden, adding charm to your landscape.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Scientists had initially feared this spread could represent another Ebola-like crisis — since that disease originated in animals, then jumped to humans, sickening and killing a large number of people.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
19 Mar. 2025
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The disconnect between the reality that many people are currently experiencing hunger, in part because of climate change, and this fancy dinner was sickening.—
The Dial,
The Dial,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ugly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ugly. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
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