ugly
ugly — adjective
1. describes a person, object, or place whose physical appearance is not pleasing t
describes a person, object, or place whose physical appearance is not pleasing to look at — for example, a face with deep scars, an old sofa with stains and ripped fabric, or a building covered in peeling paint.
The old armchair was covered in ugly stains and had ripped fabric.
collocation: ugly stains
Amira felt self-conscious about the ugly scar on her knee from the bike accident.
collocation: ugly scar
The street was lined with ugly concrete blocks that had broken windows.
Inès thought the bright orange curtains were too ugly for the living room.
An ugly stain on the new carpet caught everyone's eye during dinner.
- hideous
much stronger and more extreme than 'ugly'; suggests something is shockingly unpleasant to look at
- unsightly
more formal; usually describes buildings, objects, or views rather than people
- unattractive
softer and more polite than 'ugly'; often a deliberate understatement
- plain
describes a person, especially a woman, who is not especially good-looking in a neutral, non-harsh way
- beautiful
the most direct opposite; describes something very pleasing to look at
- attractive
describes something pleasing in appearance, often in a way that draws positive attention
文法句型
ugly + noun
be/look + ugly
常見錯誤
2. describes a situation, event, or way of behaving that is unpleasant because it i
describes a situation, event, or way of behaving that is unpleasant because it involves or suggests violence, hostility, or danger — for example, a crowd that starts shouting and pushing, or the tense atmosphere in a room just before a fight begins.
The argument outside the bar quickly turned ugly when bottles were thrown.
turned ugly
Sora could sense the ugly mood as the crowd began to push and shout.
collocation: ugly mood
Reports of ugly scenes at the protest filled the evening news broadcast.
An ugly fight broke out between two drivers after the car accident.
Megan walked away from the meeting before things could get ugly.
文法句型
get/turn + ugly
ugly + noun (scene/fight/mood)
用法筆記
This sense is very common in fixed expressions like 'turn ugly' and 'get ugly', where the subject is typically a situation, argument, or crowd — not a person. You would not say 'He is ugly' to mean he is threatening; use 'menacing' or 'aggressive' instead.
常見錯誤
3. describes something that causes a disagreeable experience through hearing, smell
describes something that causes a disagreeable experience through hearing, smell, or taste rather than through sight — for instance, a harsh and grating noise, a bad smell rising from a blocked drain, or a bitter taste that you want to spit out.
An ugly sound came from the car engine just before it stopped working.
ugly sound
Hamza held his nose as an ugly smell rose from the kitchen drain.
ugly smell
The cheap wine had an ugly taste that reminded Vivek of sour vinegar.
An ugly noise from the neighbour's flat kept the whole building awake.
- unpleasant
broader and more general; works for all senses and is more neutral in tone
- disgusting
much stronger; suggests a feeling of revulsion, especially for smells and tastes
- nasty
informal; can describe bad smells, tastes, or sounds with a slightly stronger negative feeling
文法句型
ugly + sense noun (sound/smell/taste)
用法筆記
This sense is less common than sense 1 (visual ugliness). It is used most naturally with specific sensory nouns: 'ugly sound', 'ugly smell', 'ugly taste'. It is rarely used for touch ('ugly texture' is possible but unusual).
常見錯誤
ugly — adverb
1. in a way that is unpleasant to look at, or in a hostile or violent manner — note
in a way that is unpleasant to look at, or in a hostile or violent manner — note that the single-word adverb form 'uglily' exists but is very rare; speakers almost always use the phrase 'in an ugly way' instead.
The old library was renovated in an ugly way that ruined its original charm.
in an ugly way
Heloísa's dress had been stitched together in an ugly manner with mismatched thread.
in an ugly manner
The dispute between the neighbours was handled in an ugly fashion by both sides.
Christopher's face twisted in an ugly way as he tried not to show his anger.
文法句型
in an ugly way / manner / fashion
用法筆記
This adverb sense is rare in everyday English. Most speakers would rephrase: instead of 'He behaved uglily', they would say 'He behaved in an ugly way' or simply use the adjective ('His behaviour was ugly').