ugly

adjective

ˈə-glē How to pronounce ugly (audio)
Definition of uglynext
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

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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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ugly Lasko’s teammate, Devin Taylor, was able to get up and field the rolling ball that split the two defenders, but Lasko stayed on the ground in what was a pretty ugly crash. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 His ability to perform a cesarean section — something Doc couldn't dream of — forces the town to reckon with an ugly part of their collective conscience. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026 With DeLuca returning a few days ago and Fraley beginning to take batting practice, there is some hope that the offensive numbers will not look quite so ugly in the coming weeks. — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2026 The Dallas Cowboys had descended from a dynasty into dysfunction, and Izell Reese’s introduction to the NFL came at one of that era’s ugliest moments. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ugly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ugly
  1. hideous
  2. disgusting
  3. grotesque
  4. awful
  5. unpleasing
  6. horrible
  7. unattractive
  8. sickening
Adjective
  • The ace endured a rocky start punctuated by a hideous 11-run blowup in Minnesota and has now been sidelined with a shoulder injury since April 26.
    — Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
  • Everyone's favorite hideous ogre and delusional donkey are finally reunited.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
Definition of hideous
Adjective
  • Noah Kahan is speaking out about a disgusting habit picked up by some music fans.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • French broadcaster French Pierron was under fire for calling childbirth 'a disgusting moment.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • In the early seasons, Kenny, one of the main characters, is killed in a violent and grotesque way in almost every episode.
    — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 3 July 2026
  • In their knockout-round street fight against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Americans proved delightfully grotesque.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
Definition of grotesque
Adjective
  • One year Pippa Middleton faced the awful shame of having to sit in a normal seat after showing up late.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Sugar is at the forensic lab with the corpse of a man who looks an awful lot like Ji Moon but isn’t Ji Moon (courtesy of Shea Whigham as Tom Flybjerg).
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 27 June 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • The remarks not only referred to the aesthetics of the game – tedious matches devoid of skillful merit that were unpleasing to watch.
    — Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
  • Usually a team of elegant offense, Michigan instead clanked 13 triples off the rim and relied on its inside defensive ferocity to win a game nearly as aesthetically unpleasing as UConn’s 53-41 win over Butler in 2011.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
Definition of unpleasing
Adjective
  • And obviously, slavery was a terrible thing, and that was horrible.
    — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • Horton, who married Rickman in 2012 in a private ceremony after more than 40 years together, also told the outlet that the diagnosis had been a horrible shock to them both.
    — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • The conditions of teaching are increasingly unattractive to individuals who may have historically considered a teaching career.
    — Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The job itself may also be seen as unattractive given recent events.
    — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026
Definition of unattractive
Adjective
  • Toxic fumes are leaking into airplanes and sickening passengers and crew members at an alarming rate, according to a September 2025 report by The Wall Street Journal.
    — Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
  • The concept of this many women vying for West is somewhat sickening to me.
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 27 May 2026
Definition of sickening

Browse Nearby Words

ugliness
ugly
ukase
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Cite this Entry

“Ugly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ugly. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ugly for Spanish Speakers

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