ugly cry
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To weep to the extent that one's face contorts.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
[…] and then she grabbed onto his shirt and cried, he held her and tried to calm her, but knew that she just needed to ugly cry, for a while.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “ugly cry” mean?
To weep to the extent that one's face contorts.
Is “ugly cry” formal or informal?
ugly cry is generally slang.