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 Countless times, Edwards has exited games with nasty-looking injuries, only to return to action minutes later. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Oct. 2025 The human body holds several effective hiding spots that some of the world's nastiest viruses have discovered - like the eyes and the testes - that are beyond the reach of the immune system. —NPR, 24 Oct. 2025 Another interesting point is that nasty anti-Trump name calling seemed toned down following the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk. —Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025 Here, nasty notions play no part. —David Peisner, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 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
  • Leave it on dirty spots for just a minute before rubbing residue away with a soft cloth.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Williams has shown the ability to break some long runs and pick up the dirty yards.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2025
Definition of dirty
Adjective
  • The long-range scoring of Sandell and Thomas provided the night’s most memorable moments, but Mateer helped pace the offense after an ugly 99-yard first half, racking up 252 yards in the second.
    — David Ubben, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Advertisement Ugly sentiments deserve ugly art, though Jude takes a nuanced stance on this matter.
    — Andy Crump, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • The murder scene was so gruesome and painful to process that the community simply burnt the house down.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Fumbling with the plastic nubs can be painful and frustrating.
    — Zoe Gates, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • Beside one of those blandly obscene bidets.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
  • But the show avoided an FCC probe as the West Coast delay was censored, and the East Coast broadcast aired after the 6am-10pm window during which obscene content is prohibited on broadcast TV and radio.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2025
Definition of obscene
Adjective
  • Police believe the act was done with malicious intent.
    — Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • The honesty hit home for fans who’ve watched Homa navigate a turbulent stretch.
    — Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Whether this week’s series of agreements across Asia marks the start of a broader reset—or a temporary thaw in a turbulent trade landscape—will depend on how these commitments unfold in the months ahead.
    — Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • Jackson Lamb has long, greasy hair and a pot belly over which hangs a filthy old trench coat.
    — Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
  • On the other end, Ja’Marr Chase is coming off an absolutely filthy touchdown grab last Sunday.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Definition of filthy
Adjective
  • Garbage disposals can flush away food debris on pots and pans in a flash, but anyone who owns one of these devices knows that unpleasant smells are a regular occurrence.
    — Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025
  • If potatoes get too cold, the tubers turn black or become mushy, grainy, and unpleasant to eat.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 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 4 Nov. 2025.

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