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
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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
In the upcoming third season, Fellowes and his team continue to focus largely on the beauty of the titular era rather than its uglier realities.
—
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 12 June 2025
After days of residents peacefully protesting the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, things took an even uglier turn after the president deployed military troops into the city to stop them.
—Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 10 June 2025
This incident came during an ugly coincidental 72-hour period involving a trio of former Cowboys players.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2025
Thus: Arnold and his commando buddies fight an alien — a big, ugly, awesome one created by the Stan Winston studio with mandibles and long hair and the ability to disappear.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 12 June 2025
After days of residents peacefully protesting the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, things took an even uglier turn after the president deployed military troops into the city to stop them.
—Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 10 June 2025
This incident came during an ugly coincidental 72-hour period involving a trio of former Cowboys players.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2025
Thus: Arnold and his commando buddies fight an alien — a big, ugly, awesome one created by the Stan Winston studio with mandibles and long hair and the ability to disappear.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ugly
Adjective
-
The hideous brutalist Embarcadero fountain had frozen over; couples skated across it like holiday shoppers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
-
There are no save-the-cat redemptions for a man who became famous for torturing, murdering and performing hideous experiments on countless Jews as part of a team of doctors overseeing medical services at Auschwitz-Birkenau.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
All the juicy — and disgusting — details of each inspection can be found in a PDF embedded under each restaurant’s entry.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
15 June 2025
-
War is disgusting, and that extraordinary chapter, which concluded what was undoubtedly the most terrible war in history, provides no exception ...—
Charles C. W. Cooke,
National Review,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
Indeed, one of the new creatures slithering around Britain are grotesque, bloated slimeballs that suck up worms from the earth and are easily killed with a bow and arrow.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
18 June 2025
-
However, a giant, grotesque monster burst through the door, toward the corpse.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
Even so, some of Lucy’s pronouncements are so truly awful that a blunt snort of laughter is the only response.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
13 June 2025
-
Romano moved back into the closer role since the loss of Alvarado, and has alternated awesome and awful performances - his ERA is an unsightly 7.40 to date.—
Tony Blengino,
Forbes.com,
11 June 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
-
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
-
And in addition to the swing itself, his overall approach at the plate has always been horrible.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
-
With guidance from Benny’s older sister and her campus-legend boyfriend, Benny and Carmen juggle horrible hookups, flavored vodka, and fake IDs.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
Thus, despite its current very low valuation, American Airlines is regarded as a high-risk investment and an unattractive stock to purchase at its existing price.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
The petals on blooms develop unattractive soft, gray or brown edges.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Queens Botanical Garden’s annual Pride event will feature DJ music, after-hours access to the garden and sickening drag performances by Nani Tsunami and Janae SaisQuoi.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2025
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But the defense is hoping to cast her recollections merely as sickening details in a deranged love story between two consenting and jealous adults.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ugly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ugly. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
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