adjective

nasty

nasty, unpleasant, malicious, foul

There's a nasty smell in this room.

There's a nasty smell in this room.

Don't be so nasty to your little sister.

Don't be so nasty to your little sister.

He had a nasty cut on his arm.

He had a nasty cut on his arm.

((nasty)) + noun very bad or unpleasant That was a nasty trick to play.

be ((nasty)) to ((sb.)) to be unkind to (sb.) Why are you being so nasty to me?

Synonyms: unpleasant, mean, foul, disgusting; Antonyms: pleasant, kind, nice

The origin is uncertain, but it might come from the Dutch word 'nestig', meaning dirty like a bird's nest.

Think of a 'nasty nest' - a dirty, unpleasant place. This can help you remember its core meaning of being foul or unpleasant.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.