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
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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
Seth Rogen voices Napoleon, the nastiest pig who becomes the farm’s scary dictator.
—
Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
O’Donnell and the President have been in a nasty feud that dates back 20 years, according to Variety.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
However nasty and spiteful things get between the Butleys and the del Valles, there’s always the sense that a détente may still be possible.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Someone who’s made tens of millions pushing a false narrative around a man who’s a pedophile, that’s a nasty thing.
—Marlow Stern, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nasty
Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
O’Donnell and the President have been in a nasty feud that dates back 20 years, according to Variety.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
However nasty and spiteful things get between the Butleys and the del Valles, there’s always the sense that a détente may still be possible.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Someone who’s made tens of millions pushing a false narrative around a man who’s a pedophile, that’s a nasty thing.
—Marlow Stern, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nasty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nasty
Adjective
-
The drinks attract younger women, typically age 16 to 35, and are aimed at health-conscious customers that don’t want Swig’s more caloric and filling dirty sodas, CEO Alex Dunn said.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
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That wasn’t the only utensil stored in a dirty place.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The scene Tuesday was beyond ugly.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
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Culturally, the word is synonymous with ugly, not just for the ways lesbians defy traditional gender roles in the popular imagination but for their disinclination toward and unavailability to men.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
All this may explain why the war doesn’t linger in British memory as a painful loss.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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But Saturday’s loss will hurt for a while, with Messi delivering a message to the team following the painful result.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
Faced with that reality, our inability to relate to one another becomes almost obscene.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
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For instance, the ruling recognized that the government’s need to protect national security might require it to prevent publication of the number and location of troops and that the primary requirements of decency might require censorship of obscene publications.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The malicious Iranian regime is our national enemy.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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Under President John Adams, the Federalists sought to eradicate French ideological influence by raising the bar to citizenship, lowering the bar to deportation, and criminalizing malicious criticism of the federal government.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Overall, it's been a turbulent year for cyber stocks.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
9 May 2026
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The sudden retirement comes after a turbulent year for the division in which the program’s full-time employees were laid off.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Then downstairs in the filthy little basement, where there's the stone butt carved into the wall, people knew exactly what to do.—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
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Strong supports the closing of Men’s Central Jail and said the department needed to look at medical care, filthy living conditions and a lack of healthy food and clean water.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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If plastic is a must (especially in areas prone to moisture), the vinegar, baking soda, and enzyme detergent routine should get all unpleasant smells out.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
1 May 2026
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This can result in unpleasant odors, stains, and even mold and mildew growth.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nasty. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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