nasty

¹

[ nas-tee ]

adjective

, nas·ti·er, nas·ti·est.

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.

noun

, plural nas·ties.

1. Informal. a nasty person or thing.

-nasty

²

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

   hyponasty.

-nasty

¹

combining form

1. indicating a nastic movement to a certain stimulus

   nyctinasty

nasty

²

/ 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. nasty piece of work informal.
   a cruel or mean person

noun

1. an offensive or unpleasant person or thing

   a video nasty

Derived Forms

• -nastic, combining_form:in_adjective
• ˈnastily, adverb
• ˈnastiness, noun

Other Words From

• nas·ti·ly adverb
• nas·ti·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nasty¹

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

Origin of nasty²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of nasty¹

from Greek nastos pressed down, close-pressed

Origin of nasty²

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

Example Sentences

He also said it was "nasty" for First Minister John Swinney to endorse Kamala Harris, but that his father "is not going to lose any sleep" over the remarks.

From BBC

In my hospital bed, I turned the camera on myself, not as a self-indulgence, but to spotlight a nasty cancer that’s hard to treat and even harder to beat.

From BBC

Taylor repeatedly leaned in with her head, causing a nasty cut above Serrano's right in the fourth round which opened up later in the fight as blood poured down the Puerto Rican's face.

From BBC

"It was a way for people to just be positive and celebratory about each other, which is what we need when everyone is so nasty and negative on social media."

From BBC

And to be sure, a significant portion of the viewing public scarfs these characters and their nasty business like candy corn.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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