ugliness

Everyday

1. Ugliness is the quality of being ugly or very unpleasant to look at. tree →
2. Ugliness can also mean nastiness or cruelty in how people behave, like the ugliness of bullying or war. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and fairy tales, ugliness is often set against beauty (The Ugly Duckling, Beauty and the Beast) to teach that looks do not show who someone really is. In discussions it also describes nasty behaviour or hard truths. Phrases: «the ugliness of war», «beauty and ugliness».

Examples

• The Ugly Duckling was teased for his ugliness. tree →
• Beauty is on the inside, so outward ugliness does not matter. tree →
• The book shows the ugliness of war. tree →
• The old car park's ugliness spoiled the view. tree →
• Bullying shows the ugliness in how people can treat others. tree →
• Belle looked past the Beast's ugliness and saw his kindness. tree →
• Setting aside my ugliness and deformity, is there any thing in me which displeases you? tree →

Note

Uncountable. From «ugly» + «-ness»; y becomes i. Calling a person ugly is unkind; in discussion, talk about things and actions instead.

In Jewish tradition

Used in Sefer Yetzirah's list of opposites, set against beauty.

Interpretation. Sefer Yetzirah says each of seven letters has a pair of opposites, with ugliness opposing beauty, to show that creation has two sides.

Examples

• The antithesis of wisdom is foolishness; of wealth, poverty; of fruitfulness, childlessness; of life, death; of dominion, dependence; of peace, war; and of beauty, ugliness. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Uncountable. From «ugly» + «-ness»; y becomes i. Calling a person ugly is unkind; in discussion, talk about things and actions instead.