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
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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
Adding to the pressure, Trump last week threatened to withhold his support from any Republican who votes against the legislation, setting the stake for a high-stakes — and potentially ugly — week in the Senate.
—
Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 July 2025
With no rain in sight and abundant sunshine, the heat could spell doom toward the end of summer, when droughts rear their ugly heads, Colin said.
—Idaho Statesman, 11 July 2025
And by sharing the ugly parts, she's made golf feel more human.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
In ‘24, Hoover and the offense were a mess through the first six games, which included a rash of turnovers and ugly home defeats to Houston and Central Florida.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 July 2025
With no rain in sight and abundant sunshine, the heat could spell doom toward the end of summer, when droughts rear their ugly heads, Colin said.
—Idaho Statesman, 11 July 2025
And by sharing the ugly parts, she's made golf feel more human.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
In ‘24, Hoover and the offense were a mess through the first six games, which included a rash of turnovers and ugly home defeats to Houston and Central Florida.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ugly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ugly
Adjective
-
Luthor combats Superman through a combination of science and technology — injecting nanobot GPS trackers into Superman’s bloodstream — using methods that recall the hideous Covid manipulation.—
Armond White,
National Review,
11 July 2025
-
The dark edge in Bushnell’s writing reflects less a brave new world than a world that is the hideous extension of the old one.—
Alice Bolin
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
There is no way around it: Toilet brushes are disgusting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 July 2025
-
Nearly 200 pounds of disgusting mats and fur was removed, which equates to an average of 1.5 pounds per dog.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
But, extreme wealth is a symptom of extreme inequality, and billionaire status is kind of grotesque.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
-
Earlier today, a new post from Elmo was shared expressing his gratitude following the grotesque incident.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
Pictures of Piper the dog, who last year went through an awful health scare after having a rawhide treat.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
-
That’s a horrible way to feel, and an awful way for fans to treat her.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
16 July 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
-
Because of Denise Gough's human frailty as a woman destroyed by her own ambition and Kyle Soller's cowardice in the face of a horrible truth.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
23 July 2025
-
Soak up the gall of losing, absorb the horrible information, feel it to the full, go there—and then rebound, with superb elasticity.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
There are a few family members who only wear olive, mustard, khaki, black and other dull colors; clunky, unattractive shoes; and few accessories.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
-
As shown, the new stadium is simple, unimposing and not unattractive.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Greater Boston communities at the center of the ongoing sanitation worker strike are taking Republic Services to court, seeking immediate relief as trash piles mount, attracting rats and giving off a sickening stench.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
17 July 2025
-
Members of the furry community around the globe teamed up to comb through the Telegram channel and find the perpetrators behind the sickening animal torture and abuse.—
Melissa Locker,
Time,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ugly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ugly. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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