B2adjectiveinformal2K

Nasty

UK /["/ˈnɑːsti/"]/US /["/ˈnæsti/"]/

Definition

very bad or unpleasant

In simple words: Very unpleasant or disgusting.

Examples

  • She made a nasty comment that upset everyone in the room.
  • The weather turned nasty with heavy rain and strong winds.
  • He suffered a nasty cut on his hand while cooking.
  • They had a nasty argument that ended their friendship.
  • The food left out overnight developed a nasty smell.
  • She was known for her nasty temper and harsh words.
  • The computer virus caused some nasty problems with the system.
  • He received a nasty injury during the football match.

Usage notes

Use 'nasty' to describe something that is offensive or unpleasant. It's common in everyday conversation but may be considered rude in more formal situations.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Nasty sounds like 'nasty' behavior — imagine a child being mean and messy.

Collocations

  • be
  • look
  • smell
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • about
  • to
  • cheap and nasty
  • nasty little
  • be
  • look
  • smell
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • about
  • to
  • cheap and nasty
  • nasty little
  • be
  • look
  • smell
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • about
  • to
  • cheap and nasty
  • nasty little
  • be
  • look
  • smell
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • about
  • to
  • cheap and nasty
  • nasty little

Synonyms

  • mean

Antonyms

  • pleasant
  • nice
  • agreeable

Common mistakes

  • 'Nasty' is often confused with 'mean' — 'mean' refers to behavior, 'nasty' refers to unpleasantness.
  • Using 'nasty' in overly formal contexts sounds inappropriate.
  • Learners sometimes use 'nasty' as a synonym for 'bad' — it's more specific than that.