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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nasty
Waters and Quinlan are glad previous No Kings rallies have been peaceful and not nasty, except for a few comments on some signs that can’t be shared in a family newspaper.
—
Steve Metsch, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
But don’t be surprised if the Yankees deploy Lagrange as a nasty bullpen weapon down the stretch.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
Metro Atlanta and most of North Georgia experienced a nasty storm front last Monday.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Based on a tragic true-life incident, director Joe Carnahan's survival thriller stars Zachary Levi as one of four friends who head out on a fishing expedition and their boat capsizes in a nasty storm.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nasty
Steve Metsch, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
But don’t be surprised if the Yankees deploy Lagrange as a nasty bullpen weapon down the stretch.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
Metro Atlanta and most of North Georgia experienced a nasty storm front last Monday.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Based on a tragic true-life incident, director Joe Carnahan's survival thriller stars Zachary Levi as one of four friends who head out on a fishing expedition and their boat capsizes in a nasty storm.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nasty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nasty
Adjective
-
Investigators described a foul-smelling place with bags and bottles of fetuses and jars of body parts, along with bloodstained furniture and dirty medical instruments.—
Greg Norman-Diamond,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Flaky salmon, soft and creamy potatoes, and rosy radishes roast on the same baking sheet for a company-worthy dinner that won’t fill the sink with dirty dishes.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Gavin Newsom loves to brag about his accomplishments as governor — a syndrome that sometimes backfires when reality raises its ugly head.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Stocks are quickly deteriorating, with each of the major averages on pace to post an ugly month of losses as hopes for a quick resolution to the Middle East conflict gives way to fear.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
One of the happy accidents that occurred as a result of not getting a pickup, which was very painful in 2005, was the opportunity to come back in 2014 and look at a much bigger picture.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
22 Mar. 2026
-
UConn ended Boston College’s hockey season in the most painful of ways on Friday at the Garden in the Hockey East semifinal.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Lauren Elliott, though, was a designer at Broderbund Games, working in a former liquor store beneath a sign that said DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCY REDUCTION DEPARTMENT alongside an impish ex-Disney animator named Gene Portwood who often doodled Mickey Mouse in obscene poses.—
Eric Boodman,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
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Using obscene or abusive language Any use of profanity, insults or abusive language is prohibited under the FDCPA.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The settlement resolves a 2023 lawsuit in which Flynn sought at least $50 million and asserted that the criminal case against him amounted to a malicious prosecution.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The most dire real-life cyberattacks on hospitals involve ransomware, a class of malicious software that encrypts data and locks down computers and networks, demanding significant amounts of cash for the promise of relief.—
Jeffrey Tully,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The area's geography of tall seaside cliffs and sharp mountain ridges can contribute to turbulent air and quick weather changes that pose hazards for aviation.—
JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Three people were killed when a tour helicopter broke apart near Honolulu in April 2019, and that December seven people died, including three children, when one crashed in turbulent weather near the Na Pali Coast.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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On January 7, Saman wrote me that two of her Afghan neighbors had just been arrested and sent to a deportation camp that was rumored to be filthy, cold, and overcrowded.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
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The filmmaker shows a strong handle over the film’s fanciful tone and fitfully filthy sense of humor, and he’s credited with composing the film’s score full of squawking brass instruments and skittish strings in addition to writing, directing and editing.—
Stephen Saito,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet insects may also be attracted to scents unpleasant to us as several notable plant species instruct.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
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And a condition in which people experience unpleasant skin sensations such as burning, stabbing or a feeling like an electrical shock occurred in about 23% of those taking the higher dose of Wegovy versus 6% of those taking the lower dose and less than 1% in people who received a placebo.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nasty. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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