Synonyms of ugly

ugly

adjective

ˈə-glē 

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

• hideous
• grotesque
• unpleasing
• disgusting
• awful
• unattractive
• monstrous
• horrible
• unsightly
• unappealing
• vile
• unlovely
• homely
• unbeautiful
• unpretty
• uncomely
• ill-favored
• sickening
• appalling
• repulsive
• unhandsome
• dreadful
• loathsome
• abominable
• horrid
• revolting
• gross
• repugnant
• repellent
• abhorrent
• nauseating
• plain
• distasteful
• nauseous
• frumpy
• noisome
• unbecoming
• unaesthetic
• unshapely
• frumpish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• beautiful
• attractive
• pretty
• handsome
• gorgeous
• lovely
• cute
• aesthetic
• stunning
• good-looking
• fair
• beauteous
• ravishing
• comely
• goodly
• drop-dead
• seemly
• knockout
• fetching
• shapely
• taking
• impressive
• sightly
• bonny
• well-favored
• imposing
• prepossessing

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

• disgusting
• awful
• horrible
• hideous
• sickening
• obnoxious
• shocking
• obscene
• dreadful
• offensive
• nasty
• unpleasant
• evil
• gross
• repulsive
• horrid
• loathsome
• terrible
• appalling
• abominable
• gruesome
• odious
• revolting
• horrific
• horrendous
• repugnant
• scandalous
• abhorrent
• distasteful
• noxious
• undesirable
• repellent
• foul
• nauseating
• rancid
• nauseous
• noisome
• disturbing
• vile
• fulsome
• unwanted
• hateful
• monstrous
• miserable
• objectionable
• disagreeable
• grim
• horrifying
• detestable
• contemptible
• unhealthy
• despicable
• sick
• ghastly
• heinous
• brackish
• unwholesome
• atrocious
• unwelcome
• nightmarish
• lousy
• unspeakable
• frightful
• grisly
• sickly
• hard
• unsavory
• uncivilized
• lurid
• exceptionable
• barbarous
• execrable
• macabre
• dislikable
• ungodly
• upsetting
• unholy
• distressing
• sickish
• unchristian
• off-putting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocuous
• attractive
• acceptable
• desirable
• pleasant
• sweet
• nice
• delightful
• delicious
• inoffensive
• alluring
• appealing
• agreeable
• welcome
• enjoyable
• dreamy
• satisfying
• darling
• luscious
• heavenly
• pleasing
• congenial
• likable
• pleasurable
• gratifying
• delectable
• palatable
• blessed
• inviting
• felicitous
• savory
• dulcet
• unobjectionable
• healthy
• unexceptionable
• wholesome
• healthful
• delightsome
• salutary
• salubrious
• restorative

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ugly

While the shoe was considered ugly, that became part of its appeal. — Justin Zacks, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

Making ‘ugly’ food attractive A whole retail sector is now dedicated to marketing misfit food. — Jintao Zhang, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026

That ugly lambasting came in the context of a bitter custody battle over Ireland between Baldwin and his ex-wife Kim Basinger. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026

The degree to which the United States has been in the ugly thick of a Constitutional crisis since the beginning of 2025 has been persistently understated by the media. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026