First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
nasty
adjective nas·ty \ˈnas-tē\
: very unpleasant to see, smell, taste, etc.
: indecent and offensive
: unpleasant and unkind
nas·ti·ernas·ti·est
Full Definition of NASTY
1
a : disgustingly filthy b : physically repugnant
4
a : extremely hazardous or harmful <a nasty undertow> b : causing severe pain or suffering <a nasty wound> <a nasty fall> c : sharply unpleasant : disagreeable <nasty weather>
5
a : difficult to understand or deal with <a nasty problem> <a nasty curveball> b : psychologically unsettling : trying <a nasty fear that she was lost>
6
: lacking in courtesy or sportsmanship <a nasty trick>
— nas·ti·ly \-tə-lē\ adverb
— nas·ti·ness \-tē-nəs\ noun
— nasty noun
See nasty defined for English-language learners
See nasty defined for kids
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Origin of NASTY
Middle English
Related to NASTY
- Synonyms
- cheap, cruddy, deplorable, despicable, dirty, grubby, lame, lousy, mean, contemptible, paltry, pitiable, pitiful, ratty, scabby, scummy, scurvy, sneaking, sorry, wretched
- Antonyms
- admirable, commendable, creditable, laudable, meritorious, praiseworthy
Synonym Discussion of NASTY
dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, squalid mean conspicuously unclean or impure. dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it <a dirty littered street>. filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears <a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy>. foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking <a foul-smelling open sewer>. nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness <it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat>. In practice, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable <had a nasty fall> <his answer gave her a nasty shock>. squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect <squalid slums>. All these terms are also applicable to moral uncleanness or baseness or obscenity. dirty then stresses meanness or despicableness <don't ask me to do your dirty work>, while filthy and foul describe disgusting obscenity or loathsome behavior <filthy street language> <a foul story of lust and greed>, and nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness <a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor>. Distinctively, squalid implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness <engaged in a series of squalid affairs>.
NASTILY Defined for Kids
nasty
adjective nas·ty \ˈna-stē\
nas·ti·ernas·ti·est
Definition of NASTY for Kids
1
: 2mean 1 <He has a nasty disposition.>
2
: very unpleasant <nasty weather> <a nasty taste>
3
: very serious : harmful <I had a nasty fall on the ice.>
4
: very dirty : filthy
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