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
The singing great took a break from rehearsals to talk to The Hollywood Reporter about Bunny’s triumph, the president’s ugly remarks about it, the Beckham family feud that he’s reluctantly been dragged into and his excitement at landing on the Strip.
—
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
Each shot 1-for-6 from 3-point range during the Celtics’ ugliest shooting performance in years.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
One of Lamont’s unacknowledged strengths is his public composure and innate courtesy in an era when escalating vulgarity in politics shows an ugly American face to us and the world.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
The Epstein files show us that the world is an ugly and unfair place.
—Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
Each shot 1-for-6 from 3-point range during the Celtics’ ugliest shooting performance in years.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
One of Lamont’s unacknowledged strengths is his public composure and innate courtesy in an era when escalating vulgarity in politics shows an ugly American face to us and the world.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
The Epstein files show us that the world is an ugly and unfair place.
—Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ugly
Adjective
-
The hideous curbside piles of frozen slush blocking New York City streets have a name.—
Ian Crouch,
New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2026
-
That this hideous crime was executed by 15-year-old young adults is horrifying.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Epstein files reveal plenty of powerful people to have tolerated or participated in disgusting and shameful behavior.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Hearing disgusting lies spread about my brother is absolutely gut-wrenching, and my family is deeply grateful so many people have stood up and helped tell his truth.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Linda from accounting, or as she’d correct, strategy and planning, deserves to be grotesque too.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
-
These grotesque lies brought additional, immense pain to grieving families and friends.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Bowing to popular demand, Fennell’s lackluster film doesn’t really bother with the stylistic flourishes of the source — this is really just the Cathy and Heathcliffe show, two awful people competing to destroy each other and threatening to take us to hell with them into the bargain.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
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In a stroke of awful timing, Devonta’s grandfather also dies during filming.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
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
-
Miami is now 27-26, still mired in play-in territory, entering today’s matinee at horrible Washington.—
Greg Cote
February 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
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A lot of things have happened with regard to that horrible situation the last couple of hours.—
Kathy Tulumello,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
They have been used ever since, except for Super Bowl 50, where the number was used instead because NFL ad designers felt Super Bowl L was too unattractive and unmarketable.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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Slow cookers are bulky, unattractive in their signature oval way and require a lot of thinking ahead to use.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Similarly the vulnerability of Nancy Guthrie, an elderly woman described as having mobility problems, as a possible victim of a violent crime, is sickening and deeply uncomfortable.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
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To many of those who knew what went on inside the structure, the spectacle was sickening.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ugly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ugly. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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