Words / A2

NAHST-ee/ˈnɑːsti/

Nasty means unkind, unpleasant, or likely to hurt: a nasty comment, a nasty cold, a nasty fall. Unpleasant is a close cousin for smells and situations; nasty often feels stronger and more personal. Nice is the everyday opposite. Do not write nasty when you mean messy (untidy) — different word.

Meaning

Unpleasant, unkind, or likely to hurt.

Examples

• “He said something nasty about her new haircut.”
• “That was a nasty thing to say to a colleague.”
• “She had a nasty cut on her knee after the match.”

Good to know

a nasty comment / cold / fall. Cousin: unpleasant. Opposite: nice. Mix-up: messy.

Near in meaning

unpleasant

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