uglier; ugliest
1
a
: offensive to the sight : hideous
b
: offensive or unpleasant to any sense
2
: morally offensive or objectionable
corruption—the ugliest stain of all
3
a
: likely to cause inconvenience or discomfort
the ugly truth
b
: surly, quarrelsome
an ugly disposition
: in an ugly manner
was acting ugly
Synonyms
Examples of ugly in a Sentence
Adjective
an ugly shade of green
They avoided what could have been an ugly situation.
He has an ugly disposition.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Editor’s Note: Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, ‘Look of the Week’ is a regular series dedicated to unpacking the most talked about outfit of the last seven days.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
The end was ugly, however: a 15-point loss to Memphis and Derrick Rose.
5.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
Contrast holds up pretty well, but the ghosting can be ugly and distracting.
—PCMAG, 31 Mar. 2024
This can result in blunt plans that to many seem downright ugly.
—Bill Kearney, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
In recent years, this brand of politicization has taken an ugly turn.
—Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2024
His complaints have often included ugly details, like swastikas being scrawled on doors, and a university’s indifference to them.
—Vimal Patel, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
That ugly incident last month began when Pelicans forward Zion Williamson fell to the court after a foul by Kevin Love, who remained out with an injury Friday.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2024
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2024
The most and least trustworthy of the lot The good, bad, and ugly find a new name in politics, the media, and pharmacists.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2024
That Dallas defense is going to be swarming and this could get ugly early.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
My intention was to make Emily a human being who’s flawed, and messy, and has ambitions and desires, and is forced to play ugly to survive in the workplace and in love.
—Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2023
But like, that ugly sobbing of just years of all of this trauma pouring out of my eyes.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 5 Oct. 2023
Auburn might have won ugly, but at least the Tigers didn’t lose badly.
—Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 12 Sep. 2023
The laundromat became the center of the picture’s multiple universes, the site of the emotionally heavy moments that helped turn ugly crying to the movie into a meme.
—Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2023
Worse, the immune system can turn ugly and attack mushy cholesterol plaques in arteries.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 17 Aug. 2023
Adjective
Advertisement That wondrous postcard had devolved into a portrait of disillusionment, two die-hards wondering how something so historic could turn so ugly so quickly.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Editor’s Note: Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, ‘Look of the Week’ is a regular series dedicated to unpacking the most talked about outfit of the last seven days.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
The end was ugly, however: a 15-point loss to Memphis and Derrick Rose.
5.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
Contrast holds up pretty well, but the ghosting can be ugly and distracting.
—PCMAG, 31 Mar. 2024
This can result in blunt plans that to many seem downright ugly.
—Bill Kearney, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
In recent years, this brand of politicization has taken an ugly turn.
—Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2024
His complaints have often included ugly details, like swastikas being scrawled on doors, and a university’s indifference to them.
—Vimal Patel, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
That ugly incident last month began when Pelicans forward Zion Williamson fell to the court after a foul by Kevin Love, who remained out with an injury Friday.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2024
Adverb
And when things went a little wayward — even when the Wolves were winning ugly in recent weeks — Finch was the first one to call them out.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2024
The most and least trustworthy of the lot The good, bad, and ugly find a new name in politics, the media, and pharmacists.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2024
That Dallas defense is going to be swarming and this could get ugly early.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
My intention was to make Emily a human being who’s flawed, and messy, and has ambitions and desires, and is forced to play ugly to survive in the workplace and in love.
—Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2023
But like, that ugly sobbing of just years of all of this trauma pouring out of my eyes.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 5 Oct. 2023
Auburn might have won ugly, but at least the Tigers didn’t lose badly.
—Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 12 Sep. 2023
The laundromat became the center of the picture’s multiple universes, the site of the emotionally heavy moments that helped turn ugly crying to the movie into a meme.
—Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2023
Worse, the immune system can turn ugly and attack mushy cholesterol plaques in arteries.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 17 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ugly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing ugly
Articles Related to ugly
Dictionary Entries Near ugly
Cite this Entry
“Ugly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ugly. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
ugly
adjective
ug·ly
ˈəg-lē
uglier; ugliest
2
: offensive entry 1 sense 3, repulsive
ugly habits
3
a
: likely to cause bother or discomfort : troublesome
an ugly situation
b
: quarrelsome
an ugly disposition
ugliness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on ugly
Nglish: Translation of ugly for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ugly for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share