Synonyms of nasty

nasty

adjective

ˈna-stē 

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

• dirty
• pitiful
• lame
• cheap
• wretched
• hateful
• disgusting
• mean
• vile
• sorry
• despicable
• deplorable
• sneaking
• contemptible
• lousy
• scabby
• grubby
• pitiable
• scurvy
• scummy
• ratty
• paltry
• loathsome
• cruddy
• disgraceful
• odious
• shameful
• abominable
• repulsive
• revolting
• detestable
• abhorrent
• repugnant
• disreputable
• condemnable
• sordid
• execrable
• dishonorable
• ignominious
• discreditable
• reptilian
• shabby
• ignoble
• craven
• squalid
• dastardly
• unscrupulous
• reprehensible
• revulsive
• cowardly
• unprincipled
• base
• low
• unethical
• censurable
• reproachable
• blamable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• admirable
• laudable
• praiseworthy
• commendable
• creditable
• meritorious
• noble
• honorable
• honest
• good
• scrupulous
• reputable
• principled
• upright
• redoubtable
• moral
• right
• ethical
• virtuous
• righteous
• high-minded
• right-minded

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ugly
• disgusting
• horrible
• awful
• sickening
• hideous
• obnoxious
• shocking
• obscene
• dreadful
• offensive
• unpleasant
• evil
• horrid
• loathsome
• gross
• gruesome
• terrible
• appalling
• odious
• repulsive
• horrific
• abominable
• noxious
• revolting
• horrendous
• scandalous
• repugnant
• distasteful
• foul
• abhorrent
• undesirable
• repellent
• nauseating
• rancid
• vile
• nauseous
• noisome
• disturbing
• fulsome
• unwanted
• hateful
• monstrous
• disagreeable
• miserable
• objectionable
• horrifying
• grim
• despicable
• detestable
• sick
• heinous
• contemptible
• unhealthy
• ghastly
• unwholesome
• unwelcome
• unsavory
• brackish
• nightmarish
• grisly
• frightful
• unspeakable
• atrocious
• lousy
• hard
• sickly
• lurid
• execrable
• exceptionable
• uncivilized
• macabre
• dislikable
• barbarous
• unholy
• upsetting
• ungodly
• sickish
• distressing
• unchristian
• off-putting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocuous
• pleasant
• sweet
• nice
• delightful
• acceptable
• attractive
• desirable
• delicious
• inoffensive
• agreeable
• welcome
• alluring
• satisfying
• congenial
• enjoyable
• appealing
• heavenly
• dreamy
• luscious
• pleasurable
• delectable
• gratifying
• pleasing
• likable
• darling
• savory
• palatable
• felicitous
• blessed
• inviting
• dulcet
• unobjectionable
• healthy
• unexceptionable
• wholesome
• healthful
• salutary
• salubrious
• delightsome
• restorative

3

as in painful

causing or feeling bodily pain

a nasty cut on my lip

Synonyms & Similar Words

• painful
• sore
• aching
• hurting
• damaging
• injurious
• hurtful
• swollen
• harmful
• afflictive
• achy
• pernicious
• noxious
• detrimental
• deleterious
• pinching
• torturous
• bleeding
• agonizing
• severe
• excruciating
• nagging
• stinging
• burning
• threatening
• raw
• festering
• inflamed
• cramping
• grievous
• smarting
• tender
• chafing
• itching
• prickling
• pricking
• wounding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indolent
• painless
• remedial
• helping
• curative
• healing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obscene
• vulgar
• pornographic
• dirty
• foul
• filthy
• gross
• unpleasant
• naughty
• unacceptable
• disgusting
• suggestive
• crude
• blue
• obnoxious
• undesirable
• indecent
• offensive
• unwanted
• abusive
• lascivious
• raunchy
• coarse
• lewd
• trashy
• bawdy
• smutty
• ribald
• impure
• unprintable
• profane
• locker-room
• infamous
• wanton
• wicked
• stag
• gutter
• broad
• porny
• X-rated
• salacious
• soft
• perverted
• unwelcome
• loathsome
• off
• low
• depraved
• kinky
• repulsive
• scatological
• revolting
• salty
• objectionable
• indelicate
• coarse-grained
• earthy
• repugnant
• perverse
• distasteful
• indecorous
• abhorrent
• racy
• barnyard
• unbecoming
• repellent
• gamy
• immodest
• scurrilous
• risqué
• atrocious
• reprehensible
• off-color
• exceptionable
• louche
• hard-core
• blameworthy
• censurable
• blamable
• debasing
• soft-core

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decent
• clean
• wholesome
• nice
• proper
• puritanical
• correct
• polite
• prudish
• innocuous
• Victorian
• pleasant
• staid
• respectable
• prim
• acceptable
• genteel
• desirable
• appropriate
• priggish
• decorous
• agreeable
• suitable
• welcome
• inoffensive
• nonobscene
• G-rated
• pleasing
• perfect
• pure
• meet
• straitlaced
• becoming
• seemly
• fit
• immaculate
• spotless
• virginal
• endorsed
• approved
• sanctioned

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• malicious
• vicious
• cruel
• hateful
• bad
• spiteful
• virulent
• malignant
• bitchy
• malevolent
• bitter
• poisonous
• despiteful
• harsh
• venomous
• malign
• jealous
• catty
• mean
• evil
• obnoxious
• vindictive
• hostile
• unkind
• devious
• snotty
• acrimonious
• resentful
• vitriolic
• contemptuous
• derogatory
• envious
• snide
• scurvy
• snakelike
• disparaging
• rancorous
• disdainful
• scornful
• baneful
• unkindly
• jaundiced
• caustic
• opprobrious
• unloving
• baleful
• mean-spirited
• scoundrelly
• deprecating
• acrid
• inimical
• scathing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• benign
• good
• loving
• benevolent
• warm
• kind
• sympathetic
• nice
• pleasant
• friendly
• kindly
• compassionate
• sweet
• agreeable
• amiable
• gracious
• cordial
• unmalicious
• benignant
• affable
• genial
• amorous
• affectionate
• good-hearted
• kindhearted
• warmhearted
• tender
• noble
• humane
• altruistic
• magnanimous
• humanitarian
• philanthropic
• tenderhearted
• high-minded

6

as in turbulent

marked by wet and windy conditions

bring your raincoat, as the weather's supposed to be nasty

Synonyms & Similar Words

• turbulent
• bleak
• rough
• dirty
• rainy
• snowy
• foul
• inclement
• stormy
• tempestuous
• raw
• squally
• gusty
• windblown
• blustery
• hazy
• breezy
• murky
• windswept
• misty
• blowy
• cloudy
• overcast
• blustering
• foggy
• soupy
• sunless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clear
• bright
• fair
• sunny
• cloudless
• pleasant
• sunshiny
• unclouded
• clement
• peaceful
• calm
• serene
• placid
• balmy
• rainless
• halcyon

7

as in filthy

not clean

it's incredibly nasty inside that garbage bin, so stay away from there

Synonyms & Similar Words

• filthy
• blackened
• dusty
• stained
• muddy
• dirty
• black
• messy
• greasy
• grimy
• sordid
• smudged
• mucky
• dingy
• unclean
• grubby
• smutty
• grungy
• polluted
• sloppy
• soiled
• foul
• grotty
• begrimed
• chaotic
• uncleanly
• bedraggled
• cruddy
• messed
• sullied
• besmirched
• befouled
• draggled
• contaminated
• confused
• bemired
• unsanitary
• insanitary
• littered
• impure
• tainted
• unwashed
• unsterile
• scruffy
• uncleaned
• slovenly
• raunchy
• unsterilized
• muddled
• cluttered
• untidy
• jumbled
• unkempt
• germy
• shabby
• disordered
• gunky
• squalid
• disheveled
• skanky
• sleazy
• sooty
• scuzzy
• disarranged
• rumpled
• defiled
• fuliginous
• mussy
• disarrayed
• crocked
• mussed
• collied

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clean
• pure
• clear
• unsullied
• stainless
• immaculate
• spotless
• ultraclean
• cleanly
• neat
• unstained
• spick-and-span
• unsoiled
• limpid
• cleaned
• tidy
• orderly
• perfect
• shiny
• bleached
• cleansed
• ordered
• groomed
• bright
• untouched
• sparkling
• flawless
• whitened
• combed
• purified
• wholesome
• unpolluted
• unblemished
• unspotted
• untainted
• virgin
• undefiled
• taintless

8

as in unpleasant

not giving pleasure to the mind or senses

the smell of those old leftovers is downright nasty

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unpleasant
• harsh
• bad
• unpleasing
• ugly
• horrible
• bitter
• sour
• disgusting
• awful
• rotten
• sickening
• wicked
• disagreeable
• unwelcome
• shocking
• dreadful
• distasteful
• icky
• hideous
• unsavory
• unpalatable
• unlovely
• yucky
• vile
• uncongenial
• displeasing
• annoying
• sick
• hateful
• obnoxious
• horrid
• loathsome
• odious
• irritating
• repulsive
• appalling
• abominable
• ghastly
• revolting
• gross
• obscene
• horrendous
• hellish
• scandalous
• foul
• repugnant
• offensive
• villainous
• abhorrent
• unholy
• bilious
• invidious
• repellent
• gnarly
• nauseating
• beastly
• nauseous
• noisome
• aggravating
• seamy
• miserable
• vexing
• god-awful
• revulsive
• wretched
• crappy
• crummy
• lousy
• galling
• sucky
• cruddy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• good
• nice
• pleasant
• agreeable
• grateful
• welcome
• satisfying
• congenial
• pleasurable
• delightful
• gratifying
• delicious
• palatable
• sweet
• friendly
• pleasing
• charming
• jolly
• amiable
• dreamy
• kindly
• delectable
• felicitous
• cheery

9

as in unsettling

causing worry or anxiety

she had the nasty sense that she'd made a mistake somewhere

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unsettling
• disturbing
• troubling
• troublesome
• frightening
• scary
• upsetting
• nagging
• horrible
• worrisome
• distressing
• terrifying
• perturbing
• disquieting
• troublous
• terrible
• discomforting
• shocking
• discouraging
• discomposing
• direful
• dismaying
• daunting
• disconcerting
• dire
• demoralizing
• chilling
• disheartening
• dispiriting
• alarming
• dread
• dreadful
• discomfiting
• horrifying
• formidable
• fearful
• ghastly
• horrendous
• forbidding
• frightful
• persecutory
• fearsome
• intimidating
• harassing
• persecutive
• hair-raising

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• settling
• soothing
• calming
• narcotic
• dreamy
• relaxing
• comforting
• sedative
• inviting
• tranquilizing
• quieting
• consoling
• lulling
• pacifying

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• foul
• unfair
• illegal
• dirty
• low
• unsportsmanlike
• shameful
• shabby
• dishonorable
• below the belt
• ignoble
• unscrupulous
• rotten
• mean
• unjust
• immoral
• ungentlemanly
• unprincipled
• unethical
• unrighteous
• unchivalrous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• legal
• clean
• fair
• just
• moral
• ethical
• sportsmanly
• sportsmanlike
• righteous
• scrupulous
• principled
• honorable
• unimpeachable
• law-abiding
• irreproachable

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dirty
• vile
• vicious
• cruel
• immoral
• bad
• sordid
• corrupt
• snide
• contemptible
• despicable
• detestable
• evil
• wretched
• low-down
• ignoble
• dishonorable
• ignominious
• mean
• execrable
• wicked
• foul
• low
• wrong
• base
• paltry
• low-minded
• currish
• iniquitous
• miscreant
• perverted
• depraved
• villainous
• reprehensible
• unscrupulous
• atrocious
• shameful
• degenerate
• disgraceful
• debauched
• dissolute
• unprincipled
• debased
• blameworthy
• unethical
• disreputable
• censurable
• blamable
• discreditable
• unworthy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• high
• noble
• honorable
• straight
• virtuous
• good
• lofty
• excellent
• ethical
• honest
• moral
• righteous
• just
• venerable
• upright
• right
• scrupulous
• principled
• decent
• proper
• exemplary
• respectable
• commendable
• high-minded
• reputable
• blameless
• right-minded
• guiltless
• seemly
• incorruptible
• irreproachable
• uncorrupted
• unerring

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• difficult
• tough
• sensitive
• problematic
• complicated
• sticky
• hairy
• tricky
• serious
• delicate
• dodgy
• thorny
• touchy
• problem
• painful
• tricksy
• hard
• spiny
• complex
• knotty
• catchy
• ticklish
• prickly
• troublesome
• intricate
• stubborn
• worrisome
• vexatious
• vexing
• abstract
• recondite
• abstruse
• involved
• scabrous
• oppressive
• inconvenient
• troublous
• stressful
• onerous
• burdensome
• demanding
• exhausting
• importunate
• exacting
• discommoding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• simple
• uncomplicated
• manageable
• straightforward
• painless
• effortless
• unproblematic
• undemanding

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

Recent Examples of nasty

Not even a career-best performance from Dailyn Swain could save the Longhorns from the nasty concoction on the defensive end that ultimately spoiled their night. —David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 3 Jan. 2026

One way to pressure would-be overseers into doing this nasty work is to dangle the possibility of more power and higher office at them. —Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026

The student loan delinquencies – a nasty side effect of pandemic relief programs expiring and loan forgiveness efforts falling short – have started to level off in recent months. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025

The six-time NBA All-Star and 2018 Sam Dunk Contest champion Mitchell also got up for some nasty slam dunks, inspired by his partner. —Lars Brandle, Billboard, 26 Dec. 2025