Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
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ugly

adjective US /ˈʌɡli/

displeasing to the senses

How often you will meet it

Rank 2,267 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 7,714 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.

What it means

adjective

  1. displeasing to the senses an ugly faceugly furniture
  2. inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace also: surly a surly waiteran ugly frame of mind
  3. morally reprehensible also: despicable, vile, slimy, unworthy, worthless, wretched would do something as despicable as murderugly crimes
  4. provoking horror also: atrocious, frightful, horrifying, horrible an atrocious automobile accidenta frightful crime of decapitation

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

ugly in real books

Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.

  • Sometimes they are beautiful things and sometimes ugly things.

    The Mahatma and the Hare: A Dream Story · H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard · Chapter 1

  • An ugly smile was wandering upon M. Costeclar’s pale lips.

    Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1

  • Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming.

    The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1

  • And now he came back, brown as a berry and ugly as need be.

    The Torch and Other Tales · Eden Phillpotts · Chapter 1

  • The ugly daughter had immediately peeked through the key-hole of the prison, and fallen in love with Florizel at first sight.

    The Firelight Fairy Book · Henry Beston · Chapter 1

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