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
3
:  mean, tawdry
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
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Origin of NASTY

Middle English
First Known Use: 14th century

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>.

Rhymes with NASTY

NASTINESS 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
5
:  indecent <nasty jokes>
nas·ti·ly \ˈna-stə-lē\ adverb
nas·ti·ness \ˈna-stē-nəs\ noun

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