Nasty: meaning, definitions and examples

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nasty

 

[ ˈnæsti ]

Adjective / Adverb
Context #1 | Adjective

describing something unpleasant

Nasty is used to describe something that is unpleasant, dirty, or offensive. It can also refer to someone who is mean-spirited or unkind.

Synonyms

disgusting, mean, offensive, unkind, unpleasant.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
nasty

Used to describe something that is very unpleasant or offensive. Often used for smells, remarks, or behavior.

  • The room had a nasty smell.
  • She made a nasty comment.
unpleasant

Used to describe something that is not enjoyable or causes discomfort. It can be used broadly for environments, tastes, or experiences.

  • The weather has been very unpleasant lately.
  • I had an unpleasant encounter with a stranger.
disgusting

Used to describe something that causes a strong feeling of dislike or nausea. Often used for food, smells, or actions that are morally repugnant.

  • The food was absolutely disgusting.
  • His behavior towards the poor was disgusting.
offensive

Used to describe something that causes someone to feel hurt, upset, or angry. Often used for comments or actions that are insensitive or rude.

  • His jokes are often offensive.
  • Many people found the advertisement offensive.
mean

Used to describe someone who is unkind or unfair to others. Often used about actions, remarks, or behavior.

  • She was mean to her little brother.
  • That was a mean thing to say to him.
unkind

Used to describe behavior that lacks consideration or empathy for others. It implies a softer degree of negativity compared to 'mean' or 'nasty'.

  • It was unkind of her to leave without saying goodbye.
  • He made some unkind remarks about my work.

Examples of usage

  • That food looks nasty, I wouldn't eat it.
  • He made a nasty comment about her appearance.
  • Don't be so nasty to your sister, it's not nice.
  • The nasty smell coming from the garbage can was unbearable.
  • The movie had a lot of nasty scenes that made me uncomfortable.
Context #2 | Adverb

describing an action done in a mean or offensive way

When used as an adverb, nasty describes an action that is done in a mean or offensive way.

Synonyms

meanly, offensively, rudely.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
nasty

Used to describe something very unpleasant or offensive, often in regard to behavior, comments, or situations. It can refer to both physical and emotional unpleasantness.

  • He made a nasty comment about her appearance.
  • The food had a nasty taste.
meanly

Used to describe actions or words that are intentionally hurtful or harmful. It focuses more on the intent behind the behavior rather than the result.

  • She spoke meanly to her classmates.
  • He laughed meanly at her mistakes.
offensively

Used to describe something that causes someone to feel deeply hurt, upset, or angry. It often refers to behavior, language, or actions that are particularly disrespectful or inappropriate.

  • The comedian's joke was taken offensively by the audience.
  • He behaved offensively during the meeting.
rudely

Used to describe behavior or language that lacks manners or social etiquette. It is generally less severe than 'offensively', but still disrespectful or impolite.

  • She rudely interrupted the conversation.
  • He rudely ignored the waiter.

Examples of usage

  • He spoke to her nastily, making her feel small.
  • She looked at him nastily, as if he had done something wrong.

Translations

Translations of the word "nasty" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desagradável

🇮🇳 बुरा

🇩🇪 unangenehm

🇮🇩 menjijikkan

🇺🇦 неприємний

🇵🇱 nieprzyjemny

🇯🇵 不快な (ふかいな)

🇫🇷 désagréable

🇪🇸 desagradable

🇹🇷 hoş olmayan

🇰🇷 불쾌한

🇸🇦 غير سار

🇨🇿 nepříjemný

🇸🇰 nepríjemný

🇨🇳 讨厌的 (tǎoyàn de)

🇸🇮 neprijeten

🇮🇸 óþægilegur

🇰🇿 жағымсыз

🇬🇪 არასასიამოვნო

🇦🇿 xoşagəlməz

🇲🇽 desagradable

Etymology

The word 'nasty' originated from Middle English in the late 14th century, derived from Old French 'nastre' meaning dirty or filthy. Over time, its meaning evolved to include being mean or offensive. It has been used widely in English literature and everyday language to describe unpleasant or unkind things.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,921, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.