Main Entry:

nas·ty

Pronunciation:

\ˈnas-tē\

Function:

adjective

Inflected Form(s):

nas·ti·er; nas·ti·est

Etymology:

Middle English

Date:

14th century

1 a: disgustingly filthy b: physically repugnant2: indecent, obscene3: mean, tawdry4 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>

synonyms see dirty

— nas·ti·ly \-tə-lē\ adverb

— nas·ti·ness \-tē-nəs\ noun

— nasty noun