ugly
ugly
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "ugly" is /ˈʌɡ.li/.
/ˈʌɡ/
/li/
Word Form Variations
Adjective: ugly (positive), uglier (comparative), ugliest (superlative)
Adverb: ugly (rare, or in specific informal phrases), uglily (more common)
Noun: ugliness (derived noun), uglies (plural, informal, usually in "the uglies" meaning an unpleasant mood or state)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Unpleasant or repulsive to look at; not beautiful or attractive.
Synonyms: unattractive, hideous, hideous, unsightly, unappealing, grotesque, repulsive
Antonyms: beautiful, attractive, pretty, handsome, lovely, appealing, pleasant
Definition 2: Unpleasant or dangerous in nature or character; morally repugnant or threatening.
Synonyms: nasty, nasty, repulsive, vile, revolting, abominable, vicious, threatening
Antonyms: pleasant, agreeable, kind, benevolent, charming, gentle, safe
Definition 3: (Of weather) Unpleasant or stormy.
Synonyms: foul, nasty, inclement, stormy, harsh, severe
Antonyms: fine, pleasant, clear, calm, mild
Definition 4: (Informal) Likely to cause trouble or difficulty.
Synonyms: problematic, difficult, tricky, messy, sticky (informal)
Antonyms: easy, simple, straightforward, manageable, smooth
Adverb
Definition 1 (rare/informal): In an unpleasant or offensive manner. (Often supplanted by "uglily" or "nastily")
Synonyms: nastily, unpleasantly, offensively, viciously
Antonyms: beautifully, pleasantly, kindly, gracefully
Noun
Definition 1 (informal, often "the uglies"): A feeling of nausea, discomfort, or general unpleasantness, especially after excessive drinking.
Synonyms: nausea, hangover (if related to drinking), discomfort, queasiness
Antonyms: well-being, comfort, freshness, vitality
Definition 2 (informal): An unattractive person.
Synonyms: plain Jane, fright (informal), gargoyle (derogatory)
Antonyms: beauty, stunner, looker, heartthrob
Examples of Use
Books:
"The ugly duckling grew into a beautiful swan, defying all expectations." (Hans Christian Andersen, "The Ugly Duckling," 1843)
"The book explores the ugly truth behind political corruption, revealing its devastating impact on society." (From a non-fiction book on political science or investigative journalism)
"He found himself in an ugly mood after the argument, brooding silently in the corner." (Fictional example from a dramatic novel)
Newspapers:
"The city council vowed to tackle the problem of ugly graffiti defacing public buildings." ("The Standard,")
"The debate over the new land bill turned ugly, with accusations and shouting matches among parliamentarians." ("Daily Nation,")
"The company faces an ugly legal battle over environmental pollution, potentially costing millions." ("Business Daily Africa,")
Online Publications:
"How to deal with ugly thoughts: Strategies for managing negative self-talk." (An article on a mental health blog, e.g., Psychology Today Online)
"The new software update features an ugly user interface, making it difficult to navigate." (A tech review on "The Verge,")
"Our guide to transforming an ugly backyard into a beautiful oasis on a budget." (An article on a home improvement blog, e.g., HGTV.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." (Film title, 1966)
Television Series: "Our forensic team uncovered the ugly truth behind the seemingly perfect family's façade." (Narration from a crime procedural, e.g., Criminal Minds)
Song Lyrics: "You make me feel so ugly / Just because you're pretty." (From a pop or rock song expressing insecurity or resentment)
Video Games: "Beware the ugly ogre guarding the dungeon entrance; its roar alone can paralyze you." (In-game creature description or warning, e.g., World of Warcraft)
Podcasts: "In this episode, we discuss the ugly side of fame and the pressures faced by celebrities." (A podcast on pop culture or human interest, e.g., Armchair Expert)
General Public Discourse:
"That's an ugly color for a wall; it doesn't match anything." (A common criticism of aesthetics)
"The traffic accident was pretty ugly, with cars overturned everywhere." (Describing a severe incident)
"Don't make an ugly face!" (A common admonition to children)
"His comments during the meeting were really ugly and inappropriate." (A criticism of offensive speech)
"The weather forecast predicts some ugly storms tonight." (A prediction of bad weather)
"Winning isn't always pretty; sometimes you just need an ugly win." (A sports comment about a hard-fought victory)
"That was an ugly thing to say." (A comment on unkind words)
10 Quotes Using Ugly
"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." (Film title, 1966)
"The ugly duckling grew into a beautiful swan, defying all expectations." (Hans Christian Andersen, "The Ugly Duckling," 1843)
"I'm an artist, and I'm sensitive, but I'm also kind of ugly." (Lesser-known, often found in artistic or self-deprecating contexts)
"War is delightful to those who have had no experience of it." (Erasmus) - This implies the "ugly" reality of war.
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all / Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." (John Keats, "Ode on a Grecian Urn," 1819) - This implicitly contrasts beauty with "ugly" falsehoods.
"There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." (Vincent van Gogh) - This suggests that true artistry transcends physical beauty or "ugly" appearances.
"Nobody has a more sacred obligation to uphold the law than those who are sworn to uphold it." (Former US Attorney General Janet Reno) - This implies combating the "ugly" side of lawbreaking.
"My face turned ugly red when I realized my mistake." (Original quote, relatable description of embarrassment)
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." (Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols, 1888) - This refers to overcoming "ugly" challenges.
"An ugly truth is better than a beautiful lie." (Unknown, widely shared motivational quote)
Etymology
The word "ugly" comes from Old Norse, which is a Scandinavian language related to Old English.
It comes from the Old Norse word uggligr.
This Old Norse word meant "dreadful," "frightful," or "fearful." It was related to the Old Norse verb ugga, meaning "to fear" or "to dread." So, something that was uggligr was literally "fear-inducing" or "dreadful to look at."
When "ugly" first entered the English language, in the late 13th century (around 1250), it came with this strong sense of "dreadful," "frightful," or "repulsive" in appearance. It was used to describe something that caused dread or aversion because of how it looked.
Over time, the meaning softened a bit from strictly "frightful" to the more common modern sense of simply "unattractive" or "unpleasant to look at," but the core idea of something being visually undesirable has remained. The other meanings (unpleasant weather, bad temper) developed from this core idea of general unpleasantness.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Ugly
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "ugly":
The ugly truth: An unpleasant or difficult truth that is hard to face.
The ugly duckling: (From the fairy tale) Someone or something that is initially unattractive but later becomes beautiful or successful.
An ugly situation: A difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous predicament.
Ugly as sin: Extremely ugly.
Ugly as homemade sin: (More emphatic variant) Extremely ugly.
Ugly cry: To cry in an unrestrained, unattractive way, typically with a distorted face.
To get ugly: For a situation to become unpleasant, violent, or difficult.
To raise one's ugly head: For something unpleasant or problematic to appear or recur.
Ugly stick: (Informal, humorous) Used in the phrase "hit with the ugly stick" to describe someone unattractive.
Beauty is only skin deep: A proverb suggesting that physical attractiveness is superficial and not as important as inner qualities. (Contrasts with "ugly" appearance).
To act ugly: (Informal) To behave in an unpleasant, aggressive, or ill-tempered way.
A blot on the landscape: Something that spoils the appearance of an area. (Synonym for an "ugly" sight).
Ugly weather: Unpleasant or stormy weather.
The beast within: Referring to a hidden, unpleasant, or aggressive side of one's personality. (Synonymous with an "ugly" inner nature).
To face the music: To accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions. (Often involves facing an "ugly" reality).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of ugly from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
