nasty
[ nas-tee ]
/ ˈnæs ti /
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adjective, nas·ti·er, nas·ti·est.
noun, plural nas·ties.
Informal. a nasty person or thing.
OTHER WORDS FOR nasty
OPPOSITES FOR nasty
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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, nounOther 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.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use nasty in a sentence
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, nounWord 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 formWord Origin for -nasty
from Greek nastos pressed down, close-pressed
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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