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
Computers were ugly hulking gray or beige boxes then, taking up so much desk space.
—
Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Warren Buffett , who came into 2025 with the most cash he’s ever owned, is now presented with an ugly market meltdown and extreme volatility — an environment where he’s known to thrive.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025
Consider this: Consider this ugly (in more than one way) picture of what happened to the French franc.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
The first outcome would be a massive win for the United States, while the second would likely be far uglier.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Warren Buffett , who came into 2025 with the most cash he’s ever owned, is now presented with an ugly market meltdown and extreme volatility — an environment where he’s known to thrive.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025
Consider this: Consider this ugly (in more than one way) picture of what happened to the French franc.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
The first outcome would be a massive win for the United States, while the second would likely be far uglier.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ugly
Adjective
-
PreSonus has also added something called a soft start circuit that stops the speakers from making the hideous thumping sound that some speakers can produce when they are turned on or off.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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It must be emphasized that these companies are not just enabling hideous criminal activity, but directly profiting from it.—
Aaron Ping,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
These were disgusting, irresponsible comments by someone who is charged with overseeing public health for hundreds of millions of people.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Do not tell the patient disgusting hospital stories about your own operations or procedures.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
When caterpillars retreat to their cocoons, part of the process of transformation can be aesthetically unbecoming and grotesque.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Beyond the chaotic rise of every brood lies one of nature’s most grotesque manipulations — a horrid affair that keeps this species alive against the odds.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Before the turn of the year, Manchester City were stuck in an awful rut.—
Sam Tighe,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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This joins a truly awful 18% audience score and an also-bad 5.7 out of 10 on IMDB, where anything under a 6 is almost never worth watching.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 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
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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
-
Wade has been in a horrible slump since the season started and going in to Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels is hitting .096 (5-for-52) with a homer, seven RBIs, eight walks and an on base percentage of .213.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
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The Braves desperately need to add a shortstop and some offensive help amid their horrible start to the season.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite currently trading at around $10, Guess stock appears fundamentally unattractive.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Germinated grass seed is usually unattractive to birds, although some birds are unpredictable, so the faster the seed germinates, the better.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And once the sickening jolts of the combat takeoff had ended and Bui slowly grew accustomed to the noise and the pressure of the C-130, the taste of KFC stopped his crying.—
Jennifer Brookland,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2025
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To take but one example, the riots that convulsed swatches of England and Northern Ireland last year were fueled by social media accounts claiming sickening crimes by immigrants, amplified by right-wing accounts.—
David Robert Grimes,
Scientific American,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ugly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ugly. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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