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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nasty
The plan in Texas has ignited a nasty and partisan tug-of-war with Democratic governors in Illinois, New York and California pledging to return the favor and redraw their congressional maps to add more Democratic districts.
—
Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
The adaptation – directed and cowritten by Phil Johnston (Ralph Breaks the Internet, Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph) – marks the first time Dahl’s bestseller and its iconic characters Mr. and Mrs. Twit, the meanest, smelliest, nastiest people in the world, have been brought to the big screen.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Of course, Trump offered this opportunity in a nasty way.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2025
Unfortunately, later in the day, arguments about controversial issues like politics and religion could get nasty.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nasty
Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
The adaptation – directed and cowritten by Phil Johnston (Ralph Breaks the Internet, Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph) – marks the first time Dahl’s bestseller and its iconic characters Mr. and Mrs. Twit, the meanest, smelliest, nastiest people in the world, have been brought to the big screen.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Of course, Trump offered this opportunity in a nasty way.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2025
Unfortunately, later in the day, arguments about controversial issues like politics and religion could get nasty.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nasty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nasty
Adjective
-
Beyond discomfort and potential allergic reactions, a dirty mattress can also affect the quality of your sleep itself.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Aug. 2025
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Inspection reports revealed problems with mold, water leaks, dirty equipment and rooms, meat debris stuck on walls and equipment, various bugs, and, at one point, puddles of blood on the floor.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In the ugliest defeat of a season belatedly compiling them, the New York Mets blew an early 6-0 lead Wednesday to fall to the Atlanta Braves 11-6.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
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The Navy must address the ugly fact that, despite all the security America can provide, a diverse array of enemies, rivals and criminals can shut the Panama Canal down at virtually any time.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Although the condition itself isn’t typically painful, raw or blistered skin can lead to pain and swelling.7 Secondary skin infections—like if a blister is exposed to bacteria and gets infected—can also cause painful symptoms.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
15 Aug. 2025
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Once tooth enamel is lost, the tooth nerves are exposed, which is painful and makes the teeth sensitive.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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To authenticate Trump's note and the obscene drawing that accompanied it, Journal reporters claim to have seen the album and talked to people knowledgeable about it.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
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Guests will enjoy the experience free from disruptive behavior, foul language, obscene gestures, fighting, unruly conduct or inconsiderate actions.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Accessing the code prompts recipients to provide personal and financial information, or can lead to downloading malicious software.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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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,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Sheckler and Kells have used the parallels in their turbulent journeys in the spotlight to lean on one another, making their bond stronger over the years.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
14 Aug. 2025
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By unifying intelligence, manufacturers can run simulations, identify vulnerabilities, and respond proactively—protecting digital and sustainability gains even in turbulent periods.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Williams was downright filthy from May 7 through the end of June, posting a 1.45 ERA.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
5 Aug. 2025
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The kitten was in a sad condition: overheated, wounded, filthy, and covered in fleas and feces.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 July 2025
Adjective
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Once again, America confronts the unpleasant truth that the Constitution does not expressly guarantee a right to vote — and neither will the Supreme Court.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
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The past year has been an unpleasant one for the value approach.—
John Dorfman,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nasty. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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