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
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The outcome was already decided – an ugly display of basketball that was never competitive – but potentially losing Doncic proverbially sucked the oxygen out of the visitors’ locker room after the game.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
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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.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Rosemary makes one of the best companion plants for apple trees because of its strong scent that's unpleasing to critters looking to snack on a juicy red apple.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
16 Feb. 2026
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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
Adjective
-
The noise is hideous, but the pollution is much worse.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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But once, my roommate had hung this hideous rack of dusty old spices above the stove.—
Alyse Whitney,
Saveur,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The finale is a suitably grotesque affair with a body count that’s impressive even by genre standards.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
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The two largest power conferences have bulked up to grotesque proportions, sprawling footprints and ravenous ambitions, thanks to the influence of TV partners Fox and ESPN.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unbeautiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unbeautiful. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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