Expressions using Themes (e.g. Collocations, IELTS, Business English)
Exam Vocabulary and Synonyms for Ugliness
On this page, you will find lists of words to help you expand your vocabulary related to the word ‘ugliness’. There are nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs, so you will learn how to put stronger sentences together with more sophisticated language. Practicing forming sentences in this way is particularly good if you are preparing for exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, SAT, LSAT, Civil Services, and Banking.
Example Sentence Showing Synonyms and Different Word Forms:
The man had a particularly (adverb) nasty (adjective) scar on his face that was considerably (adverb) unbecoming (adjective). The children laughed and thought he was hideously (adverb) grotesque (adjective), but despite his alarmingly (adverb) unpleasant (adjective) appearance, he was actually a really nice person.
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HOW TO USE OUR SYNONYM TABLES:
COMMON USE | ADVANCED EXAMS |
In this column, you will find words that you will come across in everyday English, and which are even suitable for exams like IELTS or TOEFL. *An asterisk means that this word is less popular in everyday English than the other words in the list. These words may also be asked in some simpler exams. | In this column, you will find words that are likely to be asked in more Advanced Exams, such as GRE, MBA, SAT/LSAT, Civil Service, Banks, etc. |
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Some Adjectives to Describe Ugliness
(e.g. an unsettling appearance; a horrific countenance; a repulsive manner)
COMMON USE | ADVANCED EXAMS |
He was dirty and messy, with a general unsightly appearance that kept people away. | He had quite an unprepossessing appearance, but he knew how to talk to people to keep them on side. |
All the other girls considered him unattractive in the typical sense, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say. | Abandoning her like that was an abominable thing to do, when all she wanted was the support of her friends. |
It was an altogether unpleasant situation, provoking a lot of support from neighbours and local politicans. | Well, it may seem repugnant to us, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to understand it. |
The hotel was an awful place, known for crime and vagrancy. | The detective seemed at first blush to be a rather odious character, but he had seen a lot of ugly things. |
Following the knife attack, she had a nasty scar across her forehead. | There was a repellent odour from the man, as if he hadn’t washed in weeks. |
I can’t believe you could say something like that to me. That’s just a horrible thing to say! | They dealt with the situation in a ghastly way, leaving many people with nothing. |
Well, I think that’s a dreadful thing to do. You really could have handed it better. | *an appalling demeanour/attitude |
What you did was terrible, and I don’t think I can ever forgive you. | |
He just had an offensive manner about him, insulting everyone he encountered. | |
There was a disgusting smell coming from the fridge, so I threw out all the food and cleaned it out. | |
You have a revolting attitude! There’s no way I’m giving you this job. | |
Her whole demeanour was absolutely vile. No one liked her or trusted a word she said. | |
A foul smell seemed to be coming from the cellar. They said that’s where the bodies were buried. | |
He just has a repulsive manner when he’s speaking with people. It’s very off-putting. | |
As the mist cleared, we could see a hideous face coming out of the woods. So, we ran like hell! | |
*a grotesque appearance | |
*a monstrous appearance/outburst | |
*a distasteful approach/person | |
*a horrid smell | |
*a frightful appearance | |
*a nauseating smell |
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Some Adverbs for Describing How Ugly Someone or Something Is
(e.g. decidedly ugly; horrifically nasty; terribly repulsive)
COMMON USE | ADVANCED EXAMS |
He was freakishly ugly, but he knew how to make people laugh, so he was popular. | |
I was horrifically scarred after the attack, and I hid myself away for months. | |
The picture was nauseatingly disturbing. I just couldn’t look at it. | |
The creature’s neck was sickeningly twisted. It must have suffered a terrible attack. | |
It was an unpleasantly ugly situation, but we had to face it regardless of our personal feelings. | |
It was a frightfully ugly thing to say, and it really upset your mother! | |
They were disgustingly ugly things, but we still ate them. | |
I thought he was grossly ugly, but each to their own, right? | |
She was horribly disfigured from the house fire, and it had a detrimental effect on her self-confidence. |
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