Ugly Meaning
Ugly Definition & Usage
Lacking beauty or attractiveness, often used to describe people or objects that are considered unattractive or unpleasant to look at.
Examples
- "The old house had an ugly, rusted fence that stood out like a sore thumb."
- "She didn’t think it was right to call someone 'ugly' based on their appearance."
- "The painting was considered ugly by many critics, due to its chaotic composition."
- "They tried to cover up the ugly stains on the carpet, but nothing worked."
- "The ugly truth is that they’ll have to replace the entire wall because of the water damage."
Having an unpleasant or offensive quality, often associated with moral or emotional aspects.
Examples
- "That was an ugly argument; I hope they can make up soon."
- "The ugly side of fame is that it can come with a lot of personal sacrifice."
- "She had an ugly attitude toward her coworkers, always criticizing them without offering help."
- "The ugly rumors about him turned out to be false, but the damage was done."
- "It was an ugly situation, but the company handled it well, offering refunds to all affected customers."
Characterized by or expressing intense, often negative, emotions like anger, frustration, or hatred.
Examples
- "Their ugly behavior at the party embarrassed everyone."
- "He made an ugly comment about the new manager that caused a lot of tension in the office."
- "The game ended with an ugly fight between the two players."
- "She had an ugly cry when she found out the news."
- "The debate turned ugly when accusations started flying."
Cultural Context
The word 'ugly' has evolved over time. Initially, it was associated with being fearful or causing dread in Old French ('ugly' meaning 'dreadful'). Over time, it has become more commonly used to describe things or people that are physically unattractive, unpleasant in appearance, or emotionally repulsive. However, it is also used metaphorically to describe situations, behaviors, or emotions that are harsh or offensive.
The Ugly Truth
Story
The Ugly Truth
The Johnson family had just moved into their new home, and everything seemed perfect at first. The house, though old, had character—its ivy-covered walls and creaky wooden floors seemed to whisper tales of bygone years. However, the moment they stepped into the backyard, the ugly truth revealed itself. The garden, once well-kept, was now an overgrown mess. The rusted fence around the yard was an eyesore, and the abandoned tools scattered around the shed made it look like no one had cared for the place in years. "This is going to take a lot of work," muttered Sarah, the eldest daughter, as she kicked aside a broken garden gnome. "It’s going to be an ugly project, but we’ll fix it." Her brother, Tim, was less optimistic. "Yeah, but it looks like the house itself is in worse shape than they let on. Look at the walls—there’s mold everywhere!" His frustration was evident. The 'ugly' had only just begun to unfold. But as the days passed, the Johnsons worked tirelessly, repairing what they could. It wasn’t just about making the house beautiful again; it was about confronting the ugly situations head-on, whether it was scraping off the mold or mending the broken fence. Slowly, the house began to look better. The fence was painted fresh, and the garden—though still a work in progress—was becoming a place of pride. However, the most challenging part wasn’t the house—it was Sarah’s relationship with Tim. Over the years, their relationship had become strained, and the constant bickering over trivial matters had grown worse. One night, in a heated argument about how to fix a broken window, things turned ugly. Insults were thrown, and harsh words were exchanged. Sarah stormed off, tears in her eyes. The next morning, Tim apologized, realizing that the ugly behavior between them was a deeper problem than the house’s repairs. They sat down, talked it through, and, like their home, began the long, difficult process of mending what had been broken. Though the house had become livable again, the true beauty was in the lessons learned from the ugly moments—about forgiveness, effort, and resilience.
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