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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective nasty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of nasty are dirty, filthy, foul, and squalid. While all these words mean "conspicuously unclean or impure," nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness; in practice, however, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable. When used figuratively, nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness.

it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat
had a nasty fall
his answer gave her a nasty shock
a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor

When is dirty a more appropriate choice than nasty?

The words dirty and nasty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it or, figuratively, stresses meanness or despicableness.

a dirty littered street
don't ask me to do your dirty work

When could filthy be used to replace nasty?

Although the words filthy and nasty have much in common, filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears. Figuratively, it can also describe disgusting obscenity.

a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy
filthy street language

When would foul be a good substitute for nasty?

While in some cases nearly identical to nasty, foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking; it can also describe, for example, loathsome behavior.

a foul-smelling open sewer
a foul story of lust and greed

When might squalid be a better fit than nasty?

In some situations, the words squalid and nasty are roughly equivalent. However, squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect. Distinctively, its figurative use implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness.

squalid slums
engaged in a series of squalid affairs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nasty And for anyone who's forgotten just how vile Whitfield is, the next scene serves as a nasty reminder. Matt Cabral, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2025 The Boogeyman, on the other hand, takes a nasty little Stephen King story and turns it into yet another exploration of (Jamie Lee Curtis voice) trauma, where the title demon is a metaphor for grief. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025 Bacteria and yeast and all the nasty little things that make food go bad need moisture to be happy. Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 15 Feb. 2025 Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat had the splashiest individual stat line with 2.5 sacks, but a crew of nasty defensive tackles wrought devastation versus the run and the pass. Tim Graham, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nasty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nasty
Adjective
  • Mining is one of the dirtiest industries, contributing upwards of 5% of global carbon emissions.
    Justin Worland, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The touch screen was desensitized with a filmy layer of grease, the cumulative tapping of many dirty hands.
    Anelise Chen, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The advanced metrics paint an ugly picture for the Suns as well over that span: 114.0 OffRtg (11th), 117.3 DefRtg (27th), -3.2 NetRtg (21st).
    Evan Sidery, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Or the constitutional dystopia in which we are now caught, beside which even the ugliest onscreen villainy pales into insignificance?
    Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Throughout her childhood, Dee Dee subjected her Gypsy-Rose to years of painful medical procedures that were not needed.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Whether a client hires a single architect to design a house or a team to work on a downtown plan with multiple community stakeholders, the architect-client relationship is rarely one of a painful struggle.
    Matt Shaw, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The truth about our involvement in Ukraine to oppose Russia is obscene.
    Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2025
  • The amount of cash being tossed around is obscene, and that’s part of what makes the show guiltily watchable.
    James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • As the technology behind deepfakes advances, the need to fight their malicious usage has never been greater.
    Rohan Pinto, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Now, Microsoft has identified a resurfaced malware that has returned after years, equipped with new malicious capabilities, including stealing sensitive information such as digital wallets and data from the legitimate Notes app.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • His childhood was turbulent—his parents' frequent fights sometimes turned physical, with his father directing his frustrations at young Gene.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The 1999 killing Syed and Lee both attended Woodlawn High School and had dated, broken up, reunited and broken up again in a relationship an appeals court described as turbulent.
    Chloe Atkins, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Impacted national park and forest employees say fewer workers will lead to longer lines, filthy bathrooms and unsafe hiking and camping conditions at America's precious public lands.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Between sweat, body oils, dust, dirt, hair, and grime, yoga mats, weights, and treadmills can get pretty filthy.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • These days however, an all-white or all-gray bathroom can act as an unpleasant symbol of an outdated trend, and may seem seriously lacking in pizazz.
    Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2025
  • This can be an unpleasant odor for humans to encounter, but the critters in the video seem enthusiastic about interacting with the eau de skunk.
    Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nasty. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.

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