Search
Close this search box.

The Ugliest Words in English

Robert E. Wolverton Sr., a Mississippi State classics professor, occasionally asks his students to vote on the most beautiful and the ugliest words in English. In his last survey conducted in 2009, the words vomit, moist, puke, phlegm, slaughter, snot, ugly, damp, and mucus, topped the list for ugliest. What makes one word uglier than another? Wolverton says a variety of factors probably influence people’s perception of a word, from the word’s language of origin to the number of syllables it contains.

The associations people make between words and their meanings probably play a role in perception as well. When people hear the word mucus, they might first think of a slimy organic mixture secreted by glands throughout the body before considering the possibly hidden beauty of the word. Also, some words just don’t roll off the tongue.

We compiled our own list of the ugliest English words from a survey we conducted via Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. Given that today does happen to be the tax filing deadline in the U.S., some readers may relish the fact that a certain three-letter word made it on this list. As for the rest of you, we hope you enjoy all of these charmingly ugly words:


Smegma
Phlegm
Pus
Pregnant
Rural
Moist
Juror
Regurgitate
Crotch
Bunion
Pulchritude
Schmear
Scab
Sticktoitiveness
Discharge
Blog
Synergy
Crepuscular
Ointment
Chunk
Curdle
Tax
Fetid
Routine
Honk

Did we miss any? If any Beyond Words readers wish to amend the list, feel free to leave a comment! If you need something to clean the ugly away, try The Most Beautiful Words in English.

More Ugly English Words for Language Lovers:

For additional lists, visit these sites:

Wordnik
The Telegraph
Six Things
Writing.com


Original source photo provided by The National Archives and Records Administration

Other Resources

November is Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month has officially been celebrated in the United States each November since 1990. This is recognized on the federal, state, and local levels with special programming and events to highlight and honor the traditions, culture, history, and...

Learn More

5 Fascinating Facts About the Hawaiian Language: A Look into its History and Significance

Hawaiian language, also known as ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, is one of the two official languages of Hawaii. While the language was banned in schools after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1896, there have been revitalization efforts since 1978. Today...

Learn More

What is Heritage Language?

Individuals who speak multiple languages or live in multilingual households may have a “heritage language.” This term describes the language the individual speaks or hears at home, but it is not the dominant language spoken in the community. In the...

Learn More

Contact Us

Get Started Today

Interested in our language services? Complete the form or call us during business hours (9 AM to 6:00 PM ET) at 800.895.8210.

Preparing for your test?

View our test prep materials or FAQ’s for common questions about taking a test.