as in ugly
unpleasant to look at
a makeshift shelter that was unbeautiful perhaps, but it kept us out of the rain
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Recent Examples of unbeautiful
Then over the Pont de la Concorde, an unbeautiful bridge that holds great historical significance.
—
Anna Hartley, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022
But it is often done in some very unbeautiful circumstances, for low wages, and in unhealthy work environments.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2022
Buddhism was born under a giant fig tree, which, today, grows at the center of the remote and unbeautiful town of Bodh Gaya, in India’s destitute northeastern state of Bihar.
—Paul Salopek, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2019
These things are for the unbeautiful, the uneducated, the uncouth.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 21 June 2017
Our sound, right now, is going to be the most blatant way of saying things -- the most unbeautiful, realistic lyrics.
—Taylor Weatherby, Billboard, 20 June 2017
Anna Hartley, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022
But it is often done in some very unbeautiful circumstances, for low wages, and in unhealthy work environments.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2022
Buddhism was born under a giant fig tree, which, today, grows at the center of the remote and unbeautiful town of Bodh Gaya, in India’s destitute northeastern state of Bihar.
—Paul Salopek, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2019
These things are for the unbeautiful, the uneducated, the uncouth.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 21 June 2017
Our sound, right now, is going to be the most blatant way of saying things -- the most unbeautiful, realistic lyrics.
—Taylor Weatherby, Billboard, 20 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unbeautiful
Adjective
-
Lemieux was 37, and had a reputation as one of those players who knew where to be, and when, around the ugly areas on the ice in a playoff game.—
Mac Engel
May 29,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
-
We, viewers and voters, are subjected to very ugly photographs and rhetoric.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The remarks not only referred to the aesthetics of the game – tedious matches devoid of skillful merit that were unpleasing to watch.—
Cesar R. Torres,
The Conversation,
26 May 2026
-
Usually a team of elegant offense, Michigan instead clanked 13 triples off the rim and relied on its inside defensive ferocity to win a game nearly as aesthetically unpleasing as UConn’s 53-41 win over Butler in 2011.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This used to be a death knell—the shoes that fit the bill were hideous until a few years ago.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
31 May 2026
-
Any idea on when this hideous barcode-design strip will be released?—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
The contemporary entertainment industry pushes that logic into nearly grotesque territory, as film and TV productions compete against 24/7 internet feeds and a rapidly changing meme dialect designed to always leave someone out of the loop.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 May 2026
-
Why Evolution Favored Crocodiles’ Violent Strategy To us, crocodiles’ hunting strategy looks grotesque to the point of excess.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unbeautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unbeautiful. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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