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nasty

Pronunciation: /ˈnɑːsti/

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Definition of nasty

adjective (nastier, nastiest)

  • 1very bad or unpleasant:plastic bags burn with a nasty, acrid smell dad’s had a nasty accident
  • (of the weather) unpleasantly cold or wet:it’s a nasty old night
  • repugnant to the mind:her stories are very nasty, full of murder and violence
  • 2behaving in an unpleasant or spiteful way:Harry was a nasty, foul-mouthed old devil
  • 3annoying or unwelcome:life has a nasty habit of repeating itself
  • 4damaging or harmful:a nasty, vicious-looking hatchet

noun (plural nasties)

informal
  • an unpleasant or harmful person or thing:a water conditioner to neutralize chlorine and other nasties
  • a horror video or film. See also video nasty.

Phrases

a nasty one

informal an awkward question or task.

a nasty piece (or bit) of work

British informal an unpleasant or untrustworthy person: if you ask me he’s a nasty piece of work

a nasty taste in the mouth

see taste.

something nasty in the woodshed

see woodshed.

Derivatives

nastily

adverb

Origin:

late Middle English: of unknown origin

nasty in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of nasty in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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