1
as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
there was a natural nastiness about him that was evident from the time he was a small child
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2
as in grossness
the quality or state of being obscene
the nastiness of the graffiti required that the school remove it immediately
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3
as in dustiness
the state or quality of being dirty
the piles of rotting food in the kitchen were only one element in the apartment's general impression of appalling nastiness
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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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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of nastiness
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2025
The movie is nasty and cynical—and also eerily accurate in its rendering of the digital reality of pandemic life.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 18 July 2025
For example, wildfires can not only cause direct injury and damage to people and property but can also spew all sorts of nasty stuff into the air.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Morton signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Orioles this past offseason as a starting pitcher who had established himself with 17 years of MLB experience and a nasty curveball.
—Said Bravo, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nastiness
Adjective
Such an outbreak is not particularly surprising; the reason the vast majority of milk is pasteurized (heated briefly to kill germs) is because milk can easily pick up nasty pathogens in the farmyard that can cause severe illnesses, particularly in children.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2025
The movie is nasty and cynical—and also eerily accurate in its rendering of the digital reality of pandemic life.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 18 July 2025
For example, wildfires can not only cause direct injury and damage to people and property but can also spew all sorts of nasty stuff into the air.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Morton signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Orioles this past offseason as a starting pitcher who had established himself with 17 years of MLB experience and a nasty curveball.
—Said Bravo, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nastiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nastiness
Noun
-
Most action items die from forgetfulness, not malice.—
Ishaan Agarwal,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
The incident was reported on July 11 at Fahey’s home where the two men from New York were arrested on voyeurism with malice, first-degree criminal trespassing and second-degree breach of peace charges.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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That version of Boldy — the skilled scorer not afraid to go to the dirty areas — had superstar qualities and scored some big-time goals.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
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Another is to use one of the brand's sprays and spritz the dirty surface, wipe it down, then rinse with water.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
These are the kind of ugly games that sometimes get played when GMs and coaches grow apart and pressure builds on their job securities and livelihoods.—
Pat Leonard,
Hartford Courant,
21 July 2025
-
In 1996, Cantor died, and Lutnick, after an ugly succession battle with Cantor’s widow, Iris, took control.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Higher temperatures can be too hot for a dog’s paw pads and, in some cases, can cause painful burns.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
-
The tents are overrun by mosquitoes and other large insects, subjecting people to frequent and painful insect bites.—
Steve Bousquet,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
The law requires pornographic websites to verify users’ ages – for example by making users scan and upload their driver’s license – before granting access to content that is deemed obscene for minors but not adults.—
Meg Leta Jones,
The Conversation,
27 June 2025
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Lawsuit alleges 'obscene' government overreach Longo's lawsuit, filed in Chemung County, New York, names the county, the city of Elmira and several DEC officers as defendants.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Attacks are now surging across the U.S., targeting citizens with malicious texts, emails and popups.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Habba was sued by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka for false arrest, malicious prosecution and defamation after his arrest during a protest an immigration detention center in Newark on May 9.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Flying across the country alone with my infant was far less turbulent with the right preparation.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
1 Aug. 2025
-
For Michelle, 28, knowing her long-term relationship was over—one that had started with a DM, spanned four years, and was turbulent in the way that made letting go feel impossible—came down to seeing him with someone else…in a video watched by over a million people.—
Morgan Sullivan,
Vogue,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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Indeed, the trio looked filthy, and one even had a red, watery eye.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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Sharp has long been one of New York’s filthiest comedians.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nastiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nastiness. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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