ugly

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English [edit]

Alternative forms [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle English ugly, uggely, uglike, from Old Norse uggligr (fearful, dreadful, horrible in appearance), from uggr (fear, apprehension, dread) (possibly related to agg (strife, hate)), equivalent to ug +‎ -ly. Cognate with Scots ugly, uglie, Icelandic ugglegur. Meaning softened to "very unpleasant to look at" around the late 14th century, and sense of "morally offensive" attested from around 1300.

Pronunciation [edit]

Adjective [edit]

ugly (comparative uglier, superlative ugliest)

  1. Displeasing to the eye; not aesthetically pleasing.
  2. Displeasing to the ear or some other sense.
  3. Offensive to one's sensibilities or morality.
    He played an ugly trick on us.
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Synonyms [edit]

Antonyms [edit]

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Translations [edit]

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Noun [edit]

ugly (countable and uncountable; plural uglies)

  1. (slang, uncountable) ugliness
  2. (slang) An ugly person or thing.
  3. (UK, informal, dated) A shade for the face, projecting from a bonnet.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Charles Kingsley to this entry?)