Cool MateNasty vs That was gross
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Nasty
InformalTop 2,000 (common)B2adjective
That was gross
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
| Nasty | That was gross | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnɑːsti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnæsti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæt wəz ɡrɒs//🇺🇸 //ðæt wəz ɡroʊs// |
| Meaning | Very unpleasant or disgusting. | That was unpleasant or disgusting. |
| Example | She made a nasty comment that upset everyone in the room. | When I saw the moldy bread, I thought, 'That was gross.' |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| 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 | that was really gross, that was so gross, that was absolutely gross |
| 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. | Used too frequently; reserve for stronger reactions., Confused with 'that was great' for positive remarks. |
| 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. | Commonly used in casual conversations to express strong dislike or disgust. Avoid in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Nasty vs That was gross
What's the difference between Nasty and That was gross?
Nasty: Very unpleasant or disgusting. That was gross: That was unpleasant or disgusting.
Can you show an example of each?
Nasty: She made a nasty comment that upset everyone in the room. That was gross: When I saw the moldy bread, I thought, 'That was gross.'
Can I use Nasty and That was gross interchangeably?
Not always. Nasty and That was gross are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.