nasty

[ nas-tee ]

/ ˈnæs ti /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nasty 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.

offensive; objectionable: a nasty habit.

vicious, spiteful, or ugly: 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 young pitcher has a good fast ball and a nasty curve.

noun, plural nas·ties.

Informal. a nasty person or thing.

Nearby words

nast, nastase, nastic, nastic movement, nasturtium, nasty, nasus, nasute, nat, nat., natal

Origin of nasty

1350–1400; Middle English < ?

SYNONYMS FOR nasty

1 dirty, foul, loathsome.

2 sickening, repulsive, repellent.

6 stormy, inclement. 7 smutty, pornographic.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nasty ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR nasty

1 clean, pure.

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Related forms

nas·ti·ly, adverbnas·ti·ness, noun

Definition 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for nasty

An aerial image shows what appears to be a spa, roiling water apparently carrying no nasty connotations.
The Luxury Homes That Torture and Your Tax Dollars Built|Michael Daly|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So is Sam Lutfi a legitimate manager or just a nasty opportunist?
Sam Lutfi Is Young Hollywood’s Most Infamous Svengali|Amy Zimmerman|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Use him as the poster child for a nasty, devilish lobbying group being the de facto fourth branch of government.
Where the Hell Is the Surgeon General?|Roland S. Martin|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the midst of that fierce winter, Anna fell ill, developing a nasty, lingering cough.
‘The Harness Maker’s Dream:’ The Unlikely Ranch King of Texas|Nick Kotz|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“Mr. Walker asked people to send him these vile, nasty pictures of the prophet Muhammad,” he said.
The Weirdest Story About a Conservative Obsession, a Convicted Bomber, and Taylor Swift You Have Ever Read|David Weigel|August 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was foolish drunk,' he says, but there was a look in his eyes that was nasty.
Rimrock Trail|J. Allan Dunn
Now, make up your mind to walk right up and forget the nasty little pain.
The Blue Birds' Winter Nest|Lillian Elizabeth Roy
And when they drop their nasty bombs, what will you do then, dearie?
Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, December 23, 1914|Various
A man who thinks everybody as nasty as himself, and hates them for it.
An Unsocial Socialist|George Bernard Shaw
She's a nasty, insolent, impertinent creature;—that's what she is!
The Eustace Diamonds|Anthony Trollope

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

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

-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