ugliness

noun

ug·​li·​ness ˈə-glē-nəs 

1

: the quality or state of being ugly

2

: something that is ugly

Examples of ugliness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But those ideals block the play from being fully honest—by letting ugliness stick around. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026

His reputation has dwindled in recent years, and not without good reason—there’s a lot of ugliness in his work, especially his attitude toward women. — Charlie Lee, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026

Thomas and Bonner must call out their experiences to showcase the ugliness out there and, with any luck, prompt a more profound response from the league to the issue of harassment. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Through blood-curdling howls and rants about fascism, fraud, and fighting to understand your identity, Truck Violence push through ugliness to find something more unaltered and real. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1