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
In a season of ugly losses, the Miami Heat turned in another one, this time against a Dallas Mavericks team that fielded a limited roster.
—
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2025
The city was not immune to ugly, racist incidents and resistance from white teams to even entertain the idea of playing against Black teams.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 14 Feb. 2025
Speaking of mothers, Elon Musk is embroiled in a long and ugly custody battle with Grimes over their shared children, and she’s accused him of keeping X from her.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 13 Feb. 2025
Also: Her ugly drag face at the start of the competition has apparently freed her up to do character paints in the challenges that the other girls aren’t touching.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ugly 
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2025
The city was not immune to ugly, racist incidents and resistance from white teams to even entertain the idea of playing against Black teams.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 14 Feb. 2025
Speaking of mothers, Elon Musk is embroiled in a long and ugly custody battle with Grimes over their shared children, and she’s accused him of keeping X from her.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 13 Feb. 2025
Also: Her ugly drag face at the start of the competition has apparently freed her up to do character paints in the challenges that the other girls aren’t touching.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ugly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ugly
Adjective
-
The result was good for the Jayhawks, as the Cyclones shot a hideous 1-for-12 (11%) from long range.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2025
-
Rust is a big deal, as is the fact that many Panteras have been mangled by previous owners bestowing hideous enhancements (think bad celebrity plastic surgery) on otherwise desirable cars.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s crazy to me: divine love shown to us through a disgusting and emaciated corpse hanging on a tool of execution.—
Mike Lowenberg,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
What happens when a social influencer builds her entire rep on a disgusting lie?—
Randy Myers,
The Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Werfel concocted a more tortuous explanation for his wife’s grotesque behavior.—
Alex Ross,
The New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2025
-
Janacek’s Capriccio is a strange hybrid of lyricism and grotesque shocks of color.—
Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Vanderbilt Profile Strengths: Competitive metrics, no bad losses, headliner wins vs. Kentucky and Tennessee. Profile Weaknesses: No key road/neutral wins, awful nonconference SOS.—
Jim Root,
The Athletic,
13 Feb. 2025
-
My heart was already pounding from the awful climb, but there was a sudden thrill and exhilaration.—
Frank C. Hibben,
Outdoor Life,
13 Feb. 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
-
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
-
Meanwhile the parents had suffered years of horrible harassment and death threats from Jones’ followers.—
Rochelle Eastman,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
The aerospace business is growing at a fast clip, but the warehouse automation business within the industrial automation unit has been horrible.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Faced with the unattractive alternative of continuing to fight without the assurance of further U.S. backing, Kyiv and its Western partners are now considering how to secure an acceptable deal with Moscow.—
Alexandra Prokopenko,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Jan. 2025
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And, second, a pruned crepe myrtle simply leaves you with unattractive stumps all winter long.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Every day a new person emerges as a magnificent hero or a sickening villain.—
Kelsey McKinney,
Rolling Stone,
8 Feb. 2025
-
This whole tragic final sequence plays out with a sense of sickening inevitability, like an ugly, violent domino effect.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to ugly
Thesaurus Entries Near ugly
Cite this Entry
“Ugly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ugly. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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