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nasty

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The definition of nasty is something that is very dirty, unpleasant or offensive.

(adjective)

An example of something nasty is the bottom of a dumpster.
An example of something nasty is a person using bad words.

See nasty in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective nastier, nastiest

very dirty, filthy
offensive in taste or smell; nauseating
morally offensive; indecent
very unpleasant; objectionable: nasty weather
mean; malicious; ill-humored: a nasty temper
very harmful or troublesome: a nasty bruise

Origin: ME < ? or akin to Du nestig, dirty

noun pl. nasties

an offensive, objectionable, or very unpleasant person or thing

Related Forms:

nastily adverb
nastiness noun

a condition of plant growth by a (specified) means or in a (specified) direction: epinasty

See nasty in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective nas·ti·er, nas·ti·est

a. Disgustingly dirty.
b. Physically repellent.
Morally offensive; indecent. See Synonyms at offensive.
Malicious; spiteful: “Will he say nasty things at my funeral?” (Ezra Pound).
Very unpleasant or annoying: nasty weather; a nasty trick.
Painful or dangerous; grave: a nasty accident.
Exasperatingly difficult to solve or handle: a nasty puzzle; a nasty problem.

noun pl. nas·ties

One that is nasty: “It is the business of museums to present us with nasties as well as with fine things” (Country Life).

Origin:

Origin: Middle English nasti

Origin: , possibly alteration of Old French nastre, bad

Origin: , short for villenastre

Origin: : vilein, bad; see villain

Origin: + -astre, pejorative suff. (from Latin -aster)

Related Forms:

nasˈti·ly adverb

nasˈti·ness noun

suffix

Nastic response or change: epinasty.

Origin:

Origin: Greek nastos, pressed down; see nastic

Origin: + -y²

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