ugly experience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ugly experience" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a negative or unpleasant event or situation that someone has gone through. Example: "The trip turned into an ugly experience when the weather took a turn for the worse."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"It's been an ugly experience," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

It was, the director says, "a particularly ugly experience".

The Guardian - Film

"Sequester is an ugly experience, but it could grow up to be a budget discipline swan," said Gordon Adams, a former senior budget official in the Clinton administration who is now at the Stimson Center, which studies defense issues.

The New York Times

"This has been an incredibly ugly experience," Mr. Kushner said, "that a great public university would make a decision based on slanderous mischaracterizations without giving the person in question a chance to be heard".

The New York Times

"I think the Fed had to lay the groundwork because of the very ugly experience of 1994, when they did not prepare the groundwork," said Gregory R. Valliere, an economist at Schwab Soundview Capital Markets in Washington.

The New York Times

I might have pitied them if I had not found myself in their hands so often and discovered, through ugly experience, what they were like when they held the power and what they were like when you held the power.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

And despite their ugly experiences in Iran, they are determined not to make rebel rock.

The Guardian - Music

"Kids are getting into middle school and high school and having some ugly experiences on Facebook and other social networks without an understanding of how to interact with people online," he said.

The New York Times

Sure, some people have ugly experiences but you and your pals get along great and nothing unpleasant would occur.

Huffington Post

The good, the bad and the ugly (experiences) have all provided me valuable life lessons that have made me the person I am today.

Huffington Post

There were conflicts with the experiences of others, their 'beautifully ugly' experiments and the students' own perception of their incompetence in front of open-ended design tasks.

European Journal of Futures Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ugly experience" when you want to convey not just negativity but also a sense of distaste or moral repugnance associated with the experience.

Common error

Avoid consistently labeling every negative encounter as an "ugly experience". Overuse can dilute the impact and make your writing sound melodramatic. Opt for more nuanced descriptions that accurately reflect the specific nature of each situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ugly experience" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "ugly" modifies the noun "experience". It describes the quality of the experience as being unpleasant or distasteful. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

9%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ugly experience" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe an unpleasant or distasteful event. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable. Predominantly found in news and media, its purpose is to convey a negative perception of a particular incident. To use the phrase effectively, ensure that the context aligns with the intended meaning of a deeply negative and possibly morally objectionable situation. While generally acceptable, be mindful of the tone, as overuse may diminish its impact in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bad time

A more general and less intense way to describe a negative experience.

unpleasant situation

Focuses on the circumstances being disagreeable rather than the overall impact.

negative incident

Highlights a specific event that was unfavorable.

difficult episode

Emphasizes the challenging nature of the experience.

trying ordeal

Suggests a prolonged and stressful experience.

horrific event

Indicates an extremely distressing and shocking experience.

traumatic incident

Highlights the potential for long-term psychological impact.

painful memory

Focuses on the lingering emotional distress from the experience.

bitter pill

An idiom for a difficult or unpleasant situation that must be accepted.

sour note

Implies something that detracts from an otherwise positive situation.

FAQs

What does it mean to describe something as an "ugly experience"?

Describing something as an "ugly experience" means that it was a particularly negative, unpleasant, and possibly morally repugnant event or situation. It suggests a sense of distaste and distress.

What can I say instead of "ugly experience"?

You can use alternatives like "bad experience", "unpleasant situation", or "negative incident" depending on the context.

Is "ugly experience" too strong of a phrase to use in formal writing?

While "ugly experience" is acceptable, in formal writing it may be more appropriate to use a more neutral and descriptive term such as "difficult episode" or "negative incident" to maintain a professional tone.

How do I make my writing more impactful when describing an "ugly experience"?

To enhance the impact, provide specific details and sensory descriptions that convey the unpleasant or distressing nature of the experience. Focus on the emotional and practical consequences to illustrate its significance.