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
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Recent Examples of ugly
These findings are another reminder that war has always been ugly, Binder says.
—
Ari Daniel, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
The Vols have an outside shot of returning to the CFP, despite last week’s ugly loss to Alabama.
—Matt Hayes, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2025
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.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The ugliest parts of the manifesto and blogs are their total embrace of Manifest Destiny.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Ari Daniel, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
The Vols have an outside shot of returning to the CFP, despite last week’s ugly loss to Alabama.
—Matt Hayes, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2025
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.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The ugliest parts of the manifesto and blogs are their total embrace of Manifest Destiny.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ugly
Adjective
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When her rival, Poot’s Thea, arrives underdressed, Hedda forces her into a hideous frock with fussy bows and an ungainly skirt.—
Amy Nicholson,
Twin Cities,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Here, see the real-life The Twits cast side-by-side with their hilariously hideous animated counterparts.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That would probably be the most disgusting kind.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Continue reading … 'DISGUSTING' – Jen Psaki jokes Usha Vance scared of her husband, ripped for 'disgusting' comments.—
,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Neither half of this grotesque couple wanted to end their relationship with a man who had so generously enabled their lifestyles.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
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The grotesque details—the uncle’s fingernails piercing his hands, the dog’s permanent terror of rabbits—are simply there.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Hurricane Melissa’s devastation is the awful alchemy created by the unique combination of unstoppable gusts, seawater that is forced inland and deluge that pours out of the sky, all interacting with the landscape and human lives the storm found in its path.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
29 Oct. 2025
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These limits exist because of the history of the government’s awful record with race.—
Andrew Quinio,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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The New York Jets’ Sunday began with a horrible loss, as legendary center Nick Mangold passed away after a long battle with kidney disease.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
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Šilovs did, however, look horrible in the shootout.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The life of an unattractive and unintelligent young woman living in a dreary backwater in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Shares of Apple are down 2% this year, but Lee said that the company’s valuation still remains unattractive at its current level.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Winter is coming, and no amount of Narcan can solve this sickening public health crisis.—
Joe Dwinell,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
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The injury was so sickening that the CBS broadcast only replayed it once, lest anyone with a weak stomach lose their lunch.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ugly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ugly. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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