nasty
NAH-stee
Nasty (adj) means Unpleasant, unkind, or spiteful, especially in how someone treats others. Example: “The nasty comment on her photo upset her for the rest of the day.”
adj
1
Unpleasant, unkind, or spiteful, especially in how someone treats others.
"The nasty comment on her photo upset her for the rest of the day."
"She said some really nasty things about her coworker behind her back."
"Don't be nasty to your brother just because you're in a bad mood."
2
Dirty or filthy.
"The fridge had been forgotten for weeks and smelled absolutely nasty inside."
"Wash your hands after touching those nasty old tools from the shed."
"The bathroom in that gas station was absolutely nasty."
3
Serious or dangerous, especially of an injury, illness, or situation.
"She caught a nasty cough that kept her off work for a week."
"He took a nasty fall off his bike and broke his wrist."
"That's a nasty cut — you should get it looked at."
How to use nasty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnpleasant in a strong way — could describe cruel behavior, something dirty, or something serious like an injury.
Common mistake
Context matters a lot: "a nasty person" is about cruelty, while "a nasty cut" or "a nasty fall" is about severity, not meanness.
Common pairings
nasty surprise
nasty fall
nasty comment
turn nasty
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like nasty.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- nasties
- Comparative
- nastier
- Superlative
- nastiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ comment on her photo upset her for the rest of the day.
Etymology
Traced back to Middle English "nasty," meaning filthy or unclean, though its deeper origin is uncertain — possibly linked to old North Germanic words for "dirty" or "soft."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for nasty
See all rhymes for nasty →Frequently asked questions
What does “nasty” mean?
The word “nasty” means unpleasant, unkind, or spiteful, especially in how someone treats others. In plain terms, unpleasant in a strong way — could describe cruel behavior, something dirty, or something serious like an injury.
How do you pronounce “nasty”?
“Nasty” is pronounced NAH-stee (/ˈnæs.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “nasty” in a sentence?
Here is “nasty” used in a sentence: “She said some really nasty things about her coworker behind her back.”
What is another word for “nasty”?
Words with a similar meaning to “nasty” include beastly.
What part of speech is “nasty”?
“Nasty” is an adjective.
Where does the word “nasty” come from?
The word “nasty” comes from Middle English. Traced back to Middle English "nasty," meaning filthy or unclean, though its deeper origin is uncertain — possibly linked to old North Germanic words for "dirty" or "soft.".
Is “nasty” a common word?
“Nasty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “nasty” have?
“Nasty” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unpleasant, unkind, or spiteful, especially in how someone treats others.
What is the difference between nasty and mean?
Both describe unkind behaviour, but nasty tends to stress spite and unpleasantness, while mean can also suggest cruelty or stinginess. Nasty additionally carries a separate sense meaning dirty or filthy, which mean does not.
Is nasty formal or informal?
Nasty is an informal, everyday word. In formal writing, alternatives such as unpleasant, spiteful, or offensive are usually preferred.
Can nasty describe things as well as people?
Yes. Nasty can describe an unkind or spiteful person or their behaviour, but it can also describe things that are dirty, filthy, or generally unpleasant, such as a nasty smell or a nasty wound.
What is the difference between nasty and dirty?
In its second sense, nasty overlaps with dirty, both meaning filthy, but nasty is stronger and more emotive, suggesting something repellent, whereas dirty is comparatively neutral.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include nasty:
