nasty

adjective

ˈna-stē How to pronounce nasty (audio)
Definition of nastynext
1
as in dirty
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust fortunately, the story's nasty characters are balanced by some truly good people

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2
as in ugly
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment a nasty horror movie that was so violent that I could hardly watch the opening scenes

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3
as in painful
causing or feeling bodily pain a nasty cut on my lip

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4
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society nasty magazines that are not sold to minors

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5
as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it nasty comments that trolls left on the website

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6
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions bring your raincoat, as the weather's supposed to be nasty

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7
as in filthy
not clean it's incredibly nasty inside that garbage bin, so stay away from there

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8
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses the smell of those old leftovers is downright nasty

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9
as in unsettling
causing worry or anxiety she had the nasty sense that she'd made a mistake somewhere

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10
as in foul
not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport a nasty hit got the hockey player suspended

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11
as in vile
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency that was a nasty trick to play on people who were so trusting

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12
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling given the high-ranking people involved, it will be a nasty job to hammer out a compromise

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective nasty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of nasty are dirty, filthy, foul, and squalid. While all these words mean "conspicuously unclean or impure," nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness; in practice, however, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable. When used figuratively, nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness.

it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat
had a nasty fall
his answer gave her a nasty shock
a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor

When is dirty a more appropriate choice than nasty?

The words dirty and nasty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it or, figuratively, stresses meanness or despicableness.

a dirty littered street
don't ask me to do your dirty work

When could filthy be used to replace nasty?

Although the words filthy and nasty have much in common, filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears. Figuratively, it can also describe disgusting obscenity.

a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy
filthy street language

When would foul be a good substitute for nasty?

While in some cases nearly identical to nasty, foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking; it can also describe, for example, loathsome behavior.

a foul-smelling open sewer
a foul story of lust and greed

When might squalid be a better fit than nasty?

In some situations, the words squalid and nasty are roughly equivalent. However, squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect. Distinctively, its figurative use implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness.

squalid slums
engaged in a series of squalid affairs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nasty Good luck to anybody facing San Diego reliever Mason Miller, who pairs a 104 mph fastball with a nasty slider, or Robert Suarez, the change-of-pace closer throwing 101 mph. —Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 That life, like Hobbes said, is nasty, brutish, and short. —Richard Stengel, Time, 1 Oct. 2025 Those pesky ledges, nasty ground falls, and more hazards of the hobby led to 30 lower extremity fractures among climbers last year. —Maya Silver, Outside, 29 Sep. 2025 There was definitely some nasty things said. —Don Riddell, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nasty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nasty
  1. dirty
  2. ugly
  3. painful
  4. obscene
  5. malicious
  6. turbulent
  7. filthy
  8. unpleasant
Adjective
  • Its dual-tank water system keeps clean and dirty water separate, while the multi-surface brush roll handles sealed hard floors and rugs.
    — Caitlyn Martyn may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Use a toothbrush to scrub the extra-dirty spots or a scrub brush to refresh an entire piece of furniture before using a microfiber cloth to remove lingering soap bubbles.
    — Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
Definition of dirty
Adjective
  • Lindell handles very ugly, difficult matchups and usually comes out on top, regardless of who he’s partnered with.
    — Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • If the scoreline made for ugly reading, the performance wasn’t much better.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • Mario Vuskovic’s suspension in 2022 was part of that struggle, another painful situation to overcome.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • In place of pesky underwire — which is uncomfortable at best, and downright painful at its worst — the bra uses a sturdy elastic band and adjustable straps to provide comfortable support.
    — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • Banners or signs may not be commercial in nature or obscene, or cause any disturbance to other fans.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Workers described incidents of verbal and physical abuse, including reports from women workers who said they had been manhandled and subjected to obscene remarks and threats.
    — Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
Definition of obscene
Adjective
  • The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Lorena, now 55, was charged with malicious wounding, a felony offense, but was found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity following a two-week trial in early 1994.
    — Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • This rapid descent keeps the drone stable in turbulent air and minimizes wind interference.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
  • But the recent shift from season 50 to season 51, which premiered on Saturday, was even more turbulent.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • Trying to expose the trafficking, abuse, and the filthy networks that protect the wealthy and powerful puts you in danger.
    — Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Unitree claims that the G1 is made to handle difficult, filthy, and repetitive jobs in a variety of settings, including at homes, factories, and hospitals.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
Definition of filthy
Adjective
  • This can prevent mold and mildew growth, which can lead to unpleasant odors and damage to the dishwasher.
    — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
  • But too much fiber at once can cause unpleasant gastrointestinal issues, like gas and bloating.
    — Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 7 Oct. 2025
Definition of unpleasant

Browse Nearby Words

nastiness
nasty
natch
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Cite this Entry

“Nasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nasty. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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