nasty

[ nas-tee ]

/ ˈnæs ti /

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See synonyms for: nasty / nastiness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, nas·ti·er, nas·ti·est.

physically filthy; disgustingly unclean: a nasty pigsty of a room.

offensive to taste or smell; nauseating: This ointment is really nasty—couldn't they make it smell less vile?

offensive; objectionable: a nasty habit.

vicious, spiteful, or unkind: a nasty dog;a nasty rumor.

bad or hard to deal with, encounter, undergo, etc.; dangerous; serious: a nasty cut;a nasty accident.

very unpleasant or disagreeable: nasty weather.

morally filthy; obscene; indecent: a nasty word.

Slang. formidable: the raw, nasty power of this engine;a young pitcher with a nasty slider.

noun, plural nas·ties.

Informal. a nasty person or thing.

OTHER WORDS FOR nasty

1 dirty, foul, grimy, begrimed, soiled, tainted.

2 sickening, repulsive, repellent.

4 mean, malicious, malevolent; bitchy, catty, ugly.

6 stormy, inclement. 7 smutty, pornographic.

See synonyms for nasty on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR nasty

1 clean, immaculate, spotless, unstained, unsoiled.

See antonyms for nasty on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of nasty

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, further origin unknown

OTHER WORDS FROM nasty

nas·ti·ly, adverbnas·ti·ness, noun

Other definitions for nasty (2 of 2)

-nasty

a combining form with the meaning “nastic pressure,” of the kind or in the direction specified by the initial element: hyponasty.

Origin of -nasty

<Greek nast(ós) pressed close (see nastic) + -y³

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use nasty in a sentence

But the real King David was a lot nastier—and more fascinating.
The King David You Never Knew|Joel Baden|October 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When she tried to stand up to me, I became irritated, and nastier.
My Strange Passage From Suspected School Shooter to Prom Queen|Gina Tron|January 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
With the embellishment stripped bare, the diaries present a nastier, more easily irritated side of the man.
Orwell’s Lies: His Diaries Reveal Problems with the Truth|Jimmy So|August 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
To me, becoming invisible in middle age was an enormous relief—but I had no idea that a much nastier phase lay ahead.
I Used to Be Hot, Now I’m Not|Leslie Bennetts|April 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The undercards in this match—Ron Paul vs. Gingrich, Ron Paul vs. Santorum—were far nastier and actually drew blood.
Mitt Romney Defends Against Bashing of Bain Capital at ABC Presidential Debate|Howard Kurtz|January 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
If Kingsville is cheap and nasty, Weldon is dear and nastier.
Four Years in Rebel Capitals|T. C. DeLeon
There is not in calm or storm a nastier piece of water than that which divides the island from the main.
Bentley's Miscellany, Volume II|Various
January is seldom a good month for the Atlantic, and this year the crossing was nastier than usual.
By Right of Conquest|Arthur Hornblow
Also ordinary elms, oaks—no nastier than ordinary oaks—pear-trees, apple-trees, and a vine.
Howards End|E. M. Forster
He looked round the yard—dirtier and nastier than ever now in the parts that the Man Next Door had not had time to dig.
Harding's luck|E. [Edith] Nesbit

British Dictionary definitions for nasty (1 of 2)

nasty

/ (ˈnɑːstɪ) /

adjective -tier or -tiest

unpleasant, offensive, or repugnant

(of an experience, condition, etc) unpleasant, dangerous, or painfula nasty wound

spiteful, abusive, or ill-natured

obscene or indecent

nasty piece of work British informal a cruel or mean person

noun plural -ties

an offensive or unpleasant person or thinga video nasty

Derived forms of nasty

nastily, adverbnastiness, noun

Word Origin for nasty

C14: origin obscure; probably related to Swedish dialect nasket and Dutch nestig dirty

British Dictionary definitions for nasty (2 of 2)

-nasty

n combining form

indicating a nastic movement to a certain stimulusnyctinasty

Derived forms of -nasty

-nastic, adj combining form

Word Origin for -nasty

from Greek nastos pressed down, close-pressed

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

nasty

OTHER WORDS FOR nasty

OPPOSITES FOR nasty

Origin of nasty

OTHER WORDS FROM nasty

Other definitions for nasty (2 of 2)

Origin of -nasty

Words related to nasty

How to use nasty in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nasty (1 of 2)

Derived forms of nasty

Word Origin for nasty

British Dictionary definitions for nasty (2 of 2)

Derived forms of -nasty

Word Origin for -nasty