ugly
ugly /'ʌgli/ (uglier ugliest)
1 [ADJ]
If you say that someone or something is ugly, you mean that they are very unattractive and unpleasant to look at.
...an ugly little hat...
She makes me feel dowdy and ugly.
≠ beautiful
● ugliness [N-UNCOUNT]
...the raw ugliness of his native city.
≠ beauty
2 [ADJ]
If you refer to an event or situation as ugly, you mean that it is very unpleasant, usually because it involves violent or aggressive behaviour.
There have been some ugly scenes...
The confrontation turned ugly.
● ugliness [N-UNCOUNT] usu with supp
...the subtlety and ugliness of sexual harassment.
3
to rear its ugly head: see headugly duck|ling (ugly ducklings)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
If you say that someone, especially a child, is an ugly duckling, you mean that they are unattractive or awkward now, but will probably develop into an attractive and successful person.
1 [ADJ]
If you say that someone or something is ugly, you mean that they are very unattractive and unpleasant to look at.
...an ugly little hat...
She makes me feel dowdy and ugly.
≠ beautiful
● ugliness [N-UNCOUNT]
...the raw ugliness of his native city.
≠ beauty
2 [ADJ]
If you refer to an event or situation as ugly, you mean that it is very unpleasant, usually because it involves violent or aggressive behaviour.
There have been some ugly scenes...
The confrontation turned ugly.
● ugliness [N-UNCOUNT] usu with supp
...the subtlety and ugliness of sexual harassment.
3
to rear its ugly head: see headugly duck|ling (ugly ducklings)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
If you say that someone, especially a child, is an ugly duckling, you mean that they are unattractive or awkward now, but will probably develop into an attractive and successful person.