adjective
nasty
NAS-tee/ˈnæsti/
Very unpleasant or offensive.
Rotten food and flies make the overflowing trash can look nasty.
Etymology
Nasty has uncertain origins, but its early meaning was “foul” or “dirty,” both literally and figuratively. That sense broadened to general unpleasantness and, of people, mean or ill-tempered behavior.
In context
… can inflate away your savings, take your property. That's pretty nasty.
More examples
- She apologizes for the nasty comment she made.
- That broken step could cause a nasty fall.
- We get a nasty surprise when the repair bill arrives.
Forms
nasty · nastier · nastiest
nastiness noun — The quality of being unpleasant or unkind.
nastily adverb — In a very unpleasant or unkind way.
Similar words
- unpleasant
- Unpleasant is milder and need not suggest disgust or cruelty.
- offensive
- Offensive emphasizes causing anger or hurt rather than general unpleasantness.
- disgusting
- Disgusting specifically stresses revulsion, especially toward something physically repellent.