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The definition of ugly is someone or something that is visually unpleasing, or something that is threatening.

(adjective)

An example of an ugly person is someone who is very unattractive and unpleasant to look at.
An example of an ugly attitude is a person who is mean and pessimistic all the time.
An example of ugly weather is a dark sky with storm clouds.

See ugly in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective uglier, ugliest

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

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

noun pl. uglies

Informal an ugly person or thing

Related Forms:

uglily adverb
ugliness noun

See ugly in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective ug·li·er, ug·li·est

Displeasing to the eye; unsightly.
a. Repulsive or offensive; objectionable: an ugly remark.
b. Chiefly Southern U.S. Rude: Don't be ugly with me.
c. New England Unmanageable. Used of animals, especially cows or horses.
Morally reprehensible; bad.
Threatening or ominous: ugly black clouds.
a. Likely to cause embarrassment or trouble: “Public opinion in both nations could take an ugly turn” (George R. Packard).
b. Marked by or inclined to anger or bad feelings; disagreeable: an ugly temper; an ugly scene.

noun pl. ug·lies
Informal

One that is ugly.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, frightful, repulsive

Origin: , from Old Norse uggligr

Origin: , from uggr, fear

Related Forms:

ugˈli·ly adverb

ugˈli·ness noun

Regional Note: The standard sense of the adjective ugly becomes figurative in the common expression an ugly temper. Regional American speech shares this figurative sense and makes it even more specific. In New England ugly as applied to animals, especially large farm animals such as cows and horses, means “balky, hard to manage.” In the South, on the other hand, ugly with the specific sense of “rude” is used of persons: Don't be ugly, son. Interestingly, the word clever (senses 4 through 6) follows the same regional pattern as ugly: in New England the specialized senses refer to animals; in the South, to persons.

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