ugly Hear it!

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ugly definition

ugly (ug′lē)

adjective uglier -·lier, ugliest -·li·est

  1. unpleasing to look at; aesthetically offensive or unattractive; unsightly
  2. bad, vile, repulsive, offensive, objectionable, etc. an ugly lie, habit, etc.
  3. threatening; ominous ugly storm clouds
  4. Informal ill-tempered; cross an ugly mood

Etymology: ME uglike < ON uggligr, fearful, dreadful < uggr, fear, prob. < IE base *a-, sharp > Gr akē, a point

noun pl. uglies -·lies

Informal an ugly person or thing

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms ugly idiom

ugly Synonyms

ugly

modif.

  1. Ill-favored

    unsightly, loathsome, hideous, homely, repulsive, unseemly, uncomely, deformed, bad-looking, plain, disfigured, monstrous, foul, horrid, frightful, revolting, repellent, unlovely, appalling, haglike, misshapen, misbegotten, hard-featured, grisly, unprepossessing, horse-faced*, having a face that would stop a clock*, looking a mess*, looking a fright*, looking like the devil or deuce*, not fit to be seen*.

    Antonyms handsome, beautiful*, graceful. *

  2. Unpleasant

    nasty, nauseous, nauseating*, noisome*, disagreeable*, disgusting*, odious*, revolting*, repellent*, repulsive*, sorry*, vile*, dirty*, filthy*, sordid*, messy*, sickening*, foul; see also unpleasant.

    Antonyms nice*, dainty*, agreeable. *

  3. Dangerous

    pugnacious, quarrelsome, obnoxious, bellicose, rough, disagreeable, cantankerous, violent, vicious, evil, sinister, treacherous, wicked, formidable, truculent.

    Antonyms mild*, reasonable*, complaisant.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ugly Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • hideously: It is such a hideously Ugly Car, we even have a newsletter we publish that provides us with lots of laughs.

Preposition: as

  • hell: I don't think I need to tell you they're ugly as hell too.

Modifies a noun

  • duckling: Half soup, half stew, its " ugly duckling " looks hide the culinary swan beneath.

Used with adjective complement

  • turn: I decide to shelter in the relative calm of the British Council stand in case the scene turns ugly.
ugly usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

ugly quotes

He'll be all right when he's married, as Mama says; and reformed rakes make the best husbands, everybody knows. I only wish he were not so uglyöthat's all I think aboutöbut then there's no choice here in the country.

-Bronte«  , Anne

I grant an ugly woman is a blot on the fair face of creation; but as to the gentleman, let them be solicitous to possess only strength and valour: let their motto be:öHunt, shoot, and fight: the rest is not worth a flip.

-Bronte«  , Charlotte

All Middlesex is ugly, notwithstanding the millions upon millionswhichit iscontinuallysucking up fromtherestof the kingdom.

-Cobbett,William

ugly quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"ugly." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/ugly>

APA Style

ugly. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/ugly

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