exceedingly ugly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exceedingly ugly" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to emphasize a strong negative opinion about someone's appearance or an object's aesthetic. For example: "The abandoned building was exceedingly ugly, with its crumbling walls and shattered windows." Alternative expressions include "extremely unattractive" and "incredibly unsightly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A pretty name for a pretty street where two exceedingly ugly people had lived.

The New York Times - Magazine

Even encyclopedias of frogs tend to focus instead on the exceedingly ugly African clawed frog or the mammoth goliath of Zaire, as big as a small cat.

The New York Times

The most central character was a 17-year-old named Montana, a handsome kid with no concept of private space and a penchant for what I found to be exceedingly ugly girls.

Vice

The central character was a 17-year-old named Montana, a handsome kid with no concept of private space and a penchant for what I found to be exceedingly ugly girls.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Extremely ugly".

The New Yorker

Hayden suffers from a condition called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, or F.O.P. Exceedingly rare, it is one of medicine's ugliest bogeymen: beginning in early childhood, the muscle, tendons and connective tissue of those afflicted simply morph into bone.

The New York Times - Health

Exceedingly harsh!

The New York Times - Books

Ugly, ugly.

The New York Times - Magazine

Dress was exceedingly casual.

The New Yorker

Expulsion is exceedingly rare.

The New York Times

Conceivable and exceedingly unlikely.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exceedingly ugly" when you need to convey a strong subjective opinion that goes beyond the standard limits of "very" or "quite".

Common error

Avoid pairing "exceedingly" with other extreme intensifiers like "most exceedingly" or "very exceedingly". The word "exceedingly" already implies the highest degree of the adjective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exceedingly ugly" functions as an adverbial-adjective construction. The adverb "exceedingly" serves as a degree intensifier that modifies the core adjective "ugly". As noted by Ludwig AI, it is a standard and correct way to provide emphasis in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

15%

Reference

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exceedingly ugly" is a grammatically correct and effective way to intensify the adjective "ugly". According to Ludwig, it is particularly useful in journalism and descriptive prose where a writer needs to convey a strong sense of visual distaste or aesthetic failure. While its exact frequency is low compared to more basic terms, its presence in high-authority sources like The New York Times and The Economist confirms its status as a sophisticated choice for formal writing. When using it, remember that "exceedingly" is a powerful intensifier; it should be reserved for cases that truly stand out, and pairing it with other adverbs like "very" should be avoided to prevent redundancy. For a slightly more neutral tone, consider using "extremely unattractive" or highly unsightly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely unattractive

Standard neutral alternative for general use.

highly unsightly

Slightly more formal, focusing on visual unpleasantness.

intensely unsightly

Emphasizes the strength of the visual reaction.

remarkably hideous

Increases the intensity and implies the ugliness is noteworthy.

exceptionally repulsive

Stronger term that implies a feeling of disgust or physical rejection.

incredibly grotesque

Suggests a level of ugliness that is distorted or unnatural.

profoundly unappealing

A more intellectual or detached way to describe a lack of beauty.

singularly aesthetically displeasing

Very formal and specific to aesthetic theory.

notoriously ill-favored

Archaic or literary term suggesting a widespread reputation for being plain.

uncommonly plain

A polite euphemism for extreme unattractiveness.

FAQs

How do I use "exceedingly ugly" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe physical objects or living things, such as: "The building was an "exceedingly ugly" example of 1970s architecture".

What is the difference between "exceedingly ugly" and "extremely ugly"?

The phrase "exceedingly ugly" is generally considered more formal and sophisticated than "extremely ugly", which is more common in casual conversation.

What are some formal synonyms for "exceedingly ugly"?

Depending on the context, you might use "highly unsightly", "singularly unattractive" or "remarkably hideous".

Is it rude to use "exceedingly ugly" to describe people?

Yes, it is very blunt. In professional contexts, writers often prefer softer terms like "unconventionally featured" or simply "plain".