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

In 1952, as L.A. celebrated it 171st year, the bird of paradise was designated the official city flower by Mayor Fletcher Bowron, a Republican with a nasty appreciation for internment camps who would lose a bid for reelection that same year.

From Los Angeles Times

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

In contrast, a running joke about the Donald obsessing about his hair has a fun, if gleefully nasty payoff in an episode involving Trump getting his head surgically stapled to impede his male pattern baldness.

From Salon

“It’s just supposed to be good for your body — helping with antioxidants, clearing you out. It’s disgusting, though, girl. It’s so nasty.”

From Los Angeles Times

But Cronin suggested that Kyle needed to develop a nasty streak after the game, noting that he was too nice and should think less and be more assertive.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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