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• nasty
  nasty

  adjective

  physically filthy; disgustingly unclean.
• -nasty
  -nasty

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

nasty

¹ American  

[nas-tee] / ˈnæs ti /

adjective

nastier, nastiest

1. physically filthy; disgustingly unclean.

   a nasty pigsty of a room.

   Synonyms:

   grimy, foul, dirty

   Antonyms:

   unstained, spotless, immaculate, clean

2. offensive to taste or smell; nauseating.

   This ointment is really nasty—couldn't they make it smell less vile?

   Synonyms:

   ugly, catty, bitchy, malevolent, malicious, mean, repellent, repulsive, sickening

3. offensive; objectionable.

   a nasty habit.

4. vicious, spiteful, or unkind.

   a nasty dog;

   a nasty rumor.

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

   a nasty cut;

   a nasty accident.

6. very unpleasant or disagreeable.

   nasty weather.

   Synonyms:

   inclement, stormy

7. morally filthy; obscene; indecent.

   a nasty word.

   Synonyms:

   smutty

8. Slang. formidable: a young pitcher with a nasty slider.

   the raw, nasty power of this engine;

   a young pitcher with a nasty slider.

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noun

plural

nasties

1. Informal. a nasty person or thing.

-nasty ² American  

1. 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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nasty ¹ British  

/ ˈnɑːstɪ /

adjective

1. unpleasant, offensive, or repugnant

2. (of an experience, condition, etc) unpleasant, dangerous, or painful

   a nasty wound

3. spiteful, abusive, or ill-natured

4. obscene or indecent

5. informal a cruel or mean person

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noun

1. an offensive or unpleasant person or thing

   a video nasty

-nasty ² British  

combining form

1. indicating a nastic movement to a certain stimulus

   nyctinasty

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Other Word Forms

• -nastic
  combining form
• nastily
  adverb
• nastiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of nasty¹

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

Origin of -nasty²

< Greek nast ( ós ) pressed close ( see nastic) + -y ³

Explanation

Something nasty is filthy, foul, dirty, or awful. Nasty isn't a word for anything nice. The main meaning of nasty is for things that are unpleasant and very gross. If someone throws up in class, at least one student will probably say, "That's nasty!" The smell of a bathroom is nasty. A song full of dirty words is nasty in a different way. Nasty can also mean "extremely." In football, a vicious hit can be called a nasty hit. A mean person is a nasty person too.

Example Sentences

Every day of the trial, their lawyers released troves of evidence that put more of their nasty feud on public display.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

My family has to balance the risk that we might all catch something nasty against the risk of losing our minds if we choose something else to do with our vacation time.

From Slate • May 16, 2026

Green co-leader Ross Greer accused opponents of "nasty and unseemly" attacks.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

Additionally, there are no nasty new taxes or rate hikes on the horizon that could kill the momentum.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

She’d made a big promise against a nasty kid, and she didn’t even know how to fish.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Related Words

• awful
• dirty
• fierce
• horrible
• icky
• murderous
• noxious
• obnoxious
• ornery
• outrageous
• rough
• tough
• unpleasant
• vile
• vulgar