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
Try This
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
Astronomy and space sciences have mostly avoided the fraudulent practices of paper mills and predatory journals, but that might be about to change, warn the authors of a new report that delves into the ugly machinations of criminal organizations that profit from fake science.
—
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Without a quick win, Murdoch and company will face the ugly business of the evidence gathering process known as discovery.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
This group of hitters has repeatedly produced these types of ugly stretches where scoring two runs justifies a parade.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Aug. 2025
In February, the feud between way and actor Marlon Wayans reached an ugly head when the rapper published a series of cruel and vindictive social media posts targeting Wayans' transgender son, Kai.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Without a quick win, Murdoch and company will face the ugly business of the evidence gathering process known as discovery.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
This group of hitters has repeatedly produced these types of ugly stretches where scoring two runs justifies a parade.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Aug. 2025
In February, the feud between way and actor Marlon Wayans reached an ugly head when the rapper published a series of cruel and vindictive social media posts targeting Wayans' transgender son, Kai.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ugly
Adjective
-
But the promise turned into disappointment during the Rockies’ hideous first half of the season.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
19 July 2025
-
The last two decades spent without a Devil Wears Prada sequel started to feel a little bit like enduring a 20-year hideous skirt convention.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
28 July 2025
Adjective
-
Kruse and her co-conspirators are now on their fourth different set of lawyers in this dispute, and this is a disgusting publicity stunt by new counsel, as evidenced by the fact that the complaint and press release were sent to the press before the complaint was served.—
Michaela Zee,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The series sets the various human and humanoid segments of its cast on a direct course with the distinctly inhuman alien flora and fauna on the ship – there are some inventive little monsters aboard, disgusting and harrowing in their own special ways – to great effect.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Now Lulu, standing ringside in absurd, grotesque garb and oversized shoes, intended to follow in her father’s footsteps.—
April White,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Aug. 2025
-
So, despite its gorgeous colors and grotesque character designs, this one is probably best viewed after the kids go to bed.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
That said, the pitching is in an awful place right now, though rookie Chase Dollander’s performance Monday night at St. Louis was heartening.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
13 Aug. 2025
-
This man has saved countless kids from being groomed, has raised awareness to millions about these condo games and the awful things pedophiles will do to get their hands on children, and he's comforted people literally just like me who've gone through the exact thing.—
Jill Duffy,
PC Magazine,
12 Aug. 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
-
The sandwich, featuring ground meat—generally beef—suspended in a thick, sweet tomatoey sauce, has become an avatar of the horrible school lunch, a cliché that tends to go along with hairnets, greasy aprons, and other elements of canteen grotesquerie.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
17 Aug. 2025
-
The stories have overflowed with a horrible, glorious narrative abundance.—
Lyz Lenz,
Rolling Stone,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Our thorough analysis encompassing growth, profitability, financial stability, and valuation metrics uncovers fundamental weaknesses that render the stock unattractive for new investors at this time.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
That’s the bond market, and Trump’s massively expensive domestic policy agenda, his tariffs and even his constant blasting of Powell have made bonds relatively unattractive to investors.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The brazen and aggressive manhandling of Senator Padilla by the Trump administration is a sickening disgrace.—
Emma Marsden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
-
The practice is one of a sickening array of battlefield mistreatments recorded on video either by Ukrainian surveillance drones or Russian servicemen and then circulated on social media.—
Andrew Carey,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ugly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ugly. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.
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