nastynas‧ty /ˈnɑːsti $ ˈnæsti/ ●●● S2 adjective (comparative nastier, superlative nastiest) 
a nasty temper the nasty things that were being written about her There’s a nasty streak in her character. Drivers often have a nasty habit of driving too close to cyclists.nasty to Don’t be so nasty to your mum (=do not treat her unkindly).get/turn nasty especially British English (=suddenly start behaving in a threatening way) When Harry refused, Don turned nasty and went for him with both fists.► see thesaurus at unkind2person someone who is nasty behaves in an unkind and unpleasant way: I went to school with him – he was nasty then and he’s nasty now. You’re a nasty little brute!3experience/situation a nasty experience, feeling, or situation is unpleasantnasty shock/surprise It gave me a nasty shock.nasty feeling/suspicion I had a nasty feeling that a tragedy was going to happen. Life has a nasty habit of repeating itself. He had a nasty accident while riding in the forest. When you feel you’ve been cheated, it always leaves a nasty taste in the mouth (=makes you feel upset or angry afterwards). The weather turned nasty towards the evening.4sight/smell etc having a bad appearance, smell, taste etc: What’s that nasty smell? a market stall selling cheap and nasty watches► see thesaurus at horrible5injury/illness severe or very painful: a nasty cut He was carried off the field with a nasty injury.6substance a nasty substance is dangerous: nasty chemicals7a nasty piece of work British English someone who is dishonest, violent, or likely to cause trouble—nastily adverb—nastiness noun [uncountable] → video nasty
WORD ORIGINnasty
Origin:
1300-1400 Perhaps from a Scandinavian languageEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a nasty sense of humor
- A few days later, Brian had a nasty case of poison oak.
- a particularly nasty murder case
- Cheap perfume often smells nasty after a couple of hours.
- Don't let that nasty old dog come up here.
- His mouth twisted into a nasty snarl.
- I'd avoid him. if I were you. He can be quite nasty.
- I'm not very keen on this wine. It has a nasty aftertaste.
- I'm so glad you didn't get that nasty flu, Joan.
- I don't mean to be nasty, but I don't think we should work together any more.
- I just heard a nasty rumor about Jill.
- It's pretty nasty outside - they're expecting freezing rain.
- My first boss was a really nasty person, who seemed to enjoy making life difficult for everyone.
- Paul, you mustn't be nasty to the children. You'll make them cry.
- Police were alerted when neighbors complained of a nasty smell coming from the basement.
- Some of the older boys were being very nasty to him.
- Stacy said he was really nasty to her.
- The news of his death came as a very nasty shock.
- Their marriage ended in a nasty divorce.
- There was a nasty accident on the freeway and seven people were killed.
- Anyway, after seven years, people get nasty.
- I thought they would come to school and write nasty letters and stuff.
- Line play is nasty, brutal and hurtful.
- Some resisted, and for a time things got nasty.
- Soon after he joined Rangers he was involved in a nasty and bitter dismissal, sacking the club's long standing groundsman.
- Strachan was carried off with what looked like a nasty injury.
- The scrubbing was the nastiest, she thought despairingly, bad though blacking the grates, particularly the kitchen range, was.
- These lads were the blunt end of a much nastier problem.
THESAURUS
treating people in a way that makes them unhappy or upset. Unkind sounds rather formal. In everyday English, people usually say mean or nasty: · Children can be very unkind to each other.· a rather unkind remark
especially spoken unkind: · Don’t be mean to your sister!· It was a mean thing to do.
deliberately unkind, and seeming to enjoy making people unhappy: · He said some really nasty things before he left.· a nasty man
unkind – used about remarks and actions: · Joe couldn’t forget the hurtful things she had said.· Couples sometimes do hurtful things to each other.
deliberately unkind to someone because you are jealous of them or angry with them: · The other women were spiteful to her, and gave her the hardest work to do.· She watched them with spiteful glee (=pleasure).
deliberately behaving in a way that is likely to upset, hurt, or cause problems for someone: · Someone had been spreading malicious rumours about him.· There was a malicious smile on her face.· an act of malicious vandalism· The accusations are malicious.
not seeming to care about someone’s problems, and not trying to help them or make them feel better: · Her parents were very unsympathetic, and told her that she deserved to fail her exam.· an unsympathetic boss
very unsympathetic and not caring at all about other people’s feelings: · Was he hard-hearted enough to leave his son in jail overnight?· a hard-hearted businessman
taste/smell very bad and unpleasant: · What’s that horrible smell?· This fish tastes horrible.
horrible, especially in a way that makes you feel slightly sick: · I had to take two spoons of some disgusting medicine.· The stench in the room was revolting.
very unpleasant – often used about a taste that stays in your mouth: · Cheap wine sometimes leaves a nasty taste in your mouth.· the nasty smell of bad eggs
horrible and making you feel that you are going to vomit – used especially about a smell: · the nauseating smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke
horrible – used especially when there is decay or waste: · There was a foul smell coming from the water.· Whatever it was in that cup, it tasted foul.
experience, situation, event very bad and unpleasant: · For one horrible moment, I thought I was going to fall.· The refugees were living in dreadful conditions.· It must have been a terrible worry for them.· Thousands of people lost their jobs – it was awful.
very unpleasant and shocking – used especially about events where people are hurt: · There’s been a nasty accident on the motorway.· a nasty cut· The news came as a nasty shock.
Longman Language Activatorto become different · She's changed a lot since she went to college.· It's amazing how much things have changed since we were young.· Her expression did not change, and she answered me calmly.· "The telecommunications industry is changing at lightning speed," said Richard Miller, the company's chief financial officer.change into · The caterpillar eventually changes into a beautiful butterfly.change from something to/into something · In the 18th century, Britain changed from a mainly agricultural society to an industrial one.change to · The lights changed to green, and the motorbike sped off.change colourBritish change color American · It was the end of September, and the leaves on the trees were starting to change color.change out of all recognition (=change completely) · The town I grew up in has changed out of all recognition.
becoming different: · I find it hard to keep up with changing fashions.· His book is concerned with the changing role of fathers.· Ansel Adams loved wide landscapes and changing light.constantly/rapidly changing: · Businesses need to be flexible enough to adapt to changing conditions in a rapidly changing world.fast-changing/ever-changing (=changing quickly or frequently): · Job insecurity is widespread in the fast-changing American workplace.
to change - use this especially about someone's feelings or behaviour, or about a situation: · His mood suddenly altered and he seemed a little annoyed.· His defence lawyer said that Wilson's lifestyle had altered dramatically since the offences three years ago. · Her face hadn't altered much over the years.
to become something completely different: · In fairy tales when the princess kisses a frog, it turns into a handsome prince.· A trip to the beach turned into a nightmare for a local family yesterday.
to suddenly become cold, unpleasant etc: · The ink-black nights were turning cold, and the stars were frosty and fewer. · The protest turned violent when groups of demonstrators stormed the parliament building.
especially spoken to stop being one thing and start being something else, especially something very different: · In less than five years, he went from being a communist to being a member of the military government.· His face went from pink to bright red.· The Mexican economy went from boom to bust very quickly, with disastrous results for the people.go from bad to worse (=change from being bad to being even worse): · After Kathy lost her job, things went from bad to worse, and eventually she and Ed split up.
cheap but bad in quality something that is cheap does not cost much, and is clearly of bad quality: · The tourist shops were full of cheap souvenirs.· The hotel room was very small, with cheap furniture and a bumpy bed.· Oh look -- a present from Rob. I bet it's another bottle of cheap perfume.
British furniture, jewellery, or clothes that are cheap and nasty look cheap and of very bad quality: · What do you think of these bracelets? They look really cheap and nasty to me.· I don't like plastic shoes. They always seem cheap and nasty.
an unpleasant experience a horrible experience or situation is one that makes you feel very worried and upset: · It was really horrible coming home and finding all our things had been stolen.· There was a horrible moment when she thought she had left all her files on the train.
horrible - use this especially about events where there is violence, injury, or death: · There was a nasty accident on the freeway and seven people were killed.· a particularly nasty murder case· The news of his death came as a very nasty shock.
making you feel slightly worried, uncomfortable, or embarrassed: · I had an unpleasant feeling that someone was following me.· Phil and Jane argued the whole time, so it was a pretty unpleasant evening.· Then Nel lost her temper and there was an extremely unpleasant scene in Kenwood's office.
especially spoken unpleasant: · It's not very nice being stuck in an elevator for an hour.· Divorce is not a very nice business.
a very unpleasant or frightening experience: · We were stuck in a traffic jam for about four hours - it was a nightmare.· The couple's honeymoon turned into a nightmare when Martin suddenly became very ill.nightmare day/journey etc : · Thousands of commuters faced a nightmare journey to work because of the strikes.nightmare scenario (=the worst possible situation): · An oil spill on this part of the coast is the conservationists' nightmare scenario.
unpleasant person/behaviour especially British behaving in a very rude, unkind, or annoying way: · Her husband was a horrible man - lazy, and always drunk.· I really don't like her at all - she's horrible!be horrible to somebody: · I think I'll go out if you're just going to be horrible to me.
rude or unfriendly in the way you talk to people or answer their questions: · That man in the grocery store is always so unpleasant.· Did she really say that? What an unpleasant person!be unpleasant to somebody: · You shouldn't have been so unpleasant to her - she was only trying to help.
someone who is nasty has a very unpleasant character and is often unkind to people: · I'd avoid him. if I were you. He can be quite nasty.· My first boss was a really nasty person, who seemed to enjoy making life difficult for everyone.be nasty to/towards somebody: · Some of the older boys were being very nasty to him.
American rude and unkind in the way you treat people: · We soon found out that our new teacher could be real mean.be mean to somebody: · Sharon and the others were really mean to me at school today.
especially spoken unkind or unfriendly - use this especially about things people say to each other: · They just told us to shut up, which wasn't very nice.not very nice of somebody: · It wasn't very nice of him to have a party without inviting me.
rude and offensive, especially deliberately Objectionable is more formal than obnoxious: · I'd hate to be her secretary -- she's so obnoxious.· You're behaving like a spoilt obnoxious child.· I'd never have employed him if I'd realized what an objectionable person he was.· What was most objectionable about her was her arrogance.
informal someone who you dislike because they are unpleasant and behave in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable: · Get out of here you little creep! You make me sick!· He didn't say that, did he? What a creep!
informal someone who is very unpleasant and is likely to behave in a cruel or violent way: · Casey and Wyatt went round in a gang with Don, who was a nasty piece of work.· Why would anyone want to kill Howard, do you think?" "It's obvious. He was a nasty piece of work."
an unpleasant taste or smell very bad - use this especially to talk about things that taste, smell, or look really bad: · It was the most disgusting meal I've ever eaten.· He smiled showing his teeth, which were a revolting yellow colour.· What a horrible smell!· Dick had cooked a special stew, which looked and smelled revolting.
tasting or smelling horrible: · Undercooked potatoes taste unpleasant and can be harmful.· Some animals give off an unpleasant odor that deters attackers.
a foul smell or taste is extremely bad, and is caused especially by waste or things decaying: · There was a foul smell coming up from the river.
informal very unpleasant - use this to talk about food, smells, or behaviour that you dislike very much: · Ooh, gross! I hate spinach!· Brad threw up on the floor at the party. It was really gross.
British /not very good/not too good spoken a taste or smell that is not very nice or not very good is slightly unpleasant: · This cheese isn't very good. How long have we had it?· The first time I smoked a cigarette it didn't taste very nice.· I wouldn't cook that if I were you. It doesn't smell too good.
tasting or smelling very strong and unpleasant: · I'm not very keen on this wine. It has a nasty aftertaste.· Police were alerted when neighbors complained of a nasty smell coming from the basement.· Cheap perfume often smells nasty after a couple of hours.
a meal or food that is unappetizing has an unpleasant appearance or smell and does not make you want to eat it: · The soup was cold and unappetizing, but it was all there was.· The main course was an unappetizing leg of chicken with boiled potatoes.
treating someone unkindly someone who is unkind treats people in a way that makes them unhappy or upset: · Children can be very unkind.unkind to: · I felt very sorry for being unkind to her.it is unkind (of somebody) to do something: · It would be unkind to keep him in suspense for too long.
someone who is mean deliberately speaks to someone unkindly or does things to annoy them or make them angry: · She hated him for being so mean. Why was he stopping her from seeing her friends?· I never thought he was capable of doing such a mean thing to his brother.mean to: · He was mean to those who worked for him and generous to those who he hardly knew.it is mean (of somebody) to do something: · It was mean of you to disturb her when she was having a rest.
someone who is nasty is deliberately unkind, and seems to enjoy making people unhappy: · When I was a child I did some nasty things to my little brother.· I don't mean to be nasty, but I don't think we should work together any more.nasty to: · Paul, you mustn't be nasty to the children. You'll make them cry.
someone who is cruel is very unkind, and does not seem to care about other people's feelings: · He didn't seem the sort of man to be cruel on purpose.cruel to: · She married a man who was very cruel to her.it is cruel (of somebody) to do something: · It was cruel of you to frighten the poor boy like that.
deliberately unkind to someone because you are jealous of them or angry with them: · Failure had made him bitter and spiteful.· That was a wicked and spiteful thing to do.
to be unkind to someone by criticizing them or treating them more severely than is fair: · He's only just started work here -- you mustn't be too hard on him.· I thought you were a little hard on Denise, not letting her go to the party.
informal to be unkind to someone by criticizing them in a way that is not fair: · She left the company because her boss was giving her a really hard time.· Stop giving me such a hard time. I'm doing my best.
to be unkind to someone because you are angry or upset about something else, even though it is not their fault: · I know you've had a bad day at the office, but don't take it out on me.· I'm sorry I was rotten to you, but there was no one else to take it out on.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Drivers often have a nasty habit of driving too close to cyclists. You’re a nasty little brute! It gave me a nasty shock. I had a nasty feeling that a tragedy was going to happen. Life has a nasty habit of repeating itself. He had a nasty accident while riding in the forest. When you feel you’ve been cheated, it always leaves a nasty taste in the mouth (=makes you feel upset or angry afterwards). The weather turned nasty towards the evening. a market stall selling cheap and nasty watchesCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The furniture looked cheap and nasty.
Drivers often have a nasty habit of driving too close to cyclists. especially British English (=suddenly start behaving in a threatening way) When Harry refused, Don turned nasty and went for him with both fists.
When Harry refused, Don turned nasty and went for him with both fists. You’re a nasty little brute! It gave me a nasty shock. I had a nasty feeling that a tragedy was going to happen. Life has a nasty habit of repeating itself. He had a nasty accident while riding in the forest. When you feel you’ve been cheated, it always leaves a nasty taste in the mouth (=makes you feel upset or angry afterwards). The weather turned nasty towards the evening. a market stall selling cheap and nasty watches· We narrowly avoided a nasty accident.· ‘This was an absolutely horrific accident,’ said an ambulance spokesman.
· It was a really nasty bug.
The furniture looked cheap and nasty. (also a heavy cold British English) (=a bad one)· He sounded as if he had a heavy cold.
(=a very bad cough)
(=wide or deep and bleeding a lot)· The cut looked quite bad.· How did you get that nasty cut?
· He had the unpleasant habit of eating with his mouth open.
informal (=a serious infection)· He’s got a really nasty infection.
(=quite bad)· Fairground rides can cause some nasty injuries.
(=a rumour about something bad)· Ugly rumours persisted that there had been a cover-up.
especially British English (=one that is very unpleasant and upsetting)· Come and sit down. You’ve had a nasty shock.
· We don’t want any unpleasant surprises.
· Suddenly I had a nasty suspicion that the boss was going to make me redundant.
· Some tablets have a nasty taste.
· He ran back home in a terrible temper.
also it turns cold/nasty etc Then it turned cold and started to rain.
Then it turned cold and started to rain. (=suddenly become angry, violent etc) The police are worried that the situation could turn violent.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB The police are worried that the situation could turn violent.· Could it be just a particularly nasty stomach bug that was taking its sweet time about leaving?· Stewart walked off with the look of one who was the sole survivor of a particularly nasty plane crash.· Walken is particularly nasty as a paralyzed gangster who gets what fun he can by making people squirm.· Det Insp Tom Henry says it was a particularly nasty incident and a stupid act for anyone to do.· But this was a particularly nasty clash, for a couple of reasons.· The last one - it happened only last year - was particularly nasty.· Eventually she manages to deliver a particularly nasty jab and he goes up.
· Men can be pretty nasty too.· Cormorants can be pretty nasty with their beaks.· Whatever it was, he felt it must be pretty nasty.
· He walks with head erect but looking as though there is a rather nasty smell in the area.· Before his accident the Dean had created a rather nasty scene with Jason.· Oh, dear, oh, dear, this is all turning into a rather nasty mess, isn't it?· There was something rather nasty about the robe of woven-together eyes.
· If that was just a warning I didn't want to be around when they got really nasty.· My own whip was a perfect gentleman, but it was really other colleagues who got really nasty.· Browns and beiges can be really nasty, they always look like soup has been spilled down them.· It could have been really nasty, you know.· If he continues exploring, he may bump into something really nasty and die.· Since the birth of her baby brother she had turned really nasty.
· Some of them were so nasty that they had learned to disguise most symptoms of ill health from her.· Shoveling is considered so nasty that the tortured feel they must reward themselves by laying permanent claim to their handiwork.· Viewers will see what makes nasty Norma, the receptionist so nasty.· Unfortunately, that area is so nasty and so congested, they started losing business.
· He had been confirmed as Bernhard Hoppe, ex-con, bank robber, gangster, very nasty and a real low-life.· But I do know that all them Varneys have been very nasty to me and so forth and so on.· But the stall keeper refused to change it and was very nasty to her.· It was a very nasty game.· I am beginning to have a very nasty feeling about this one.· About five weeks ago there was a very nasty accident, fortunately nobody was injured, unlike this time.· Mortars, especially, are very nasty against large enemy units.· They could sometimes turn very nasty where the Capellans were concerned.
NOUN· It could be anything from a charge of treason to a nasty accident.· But you can narrow the odds of a nasty accident happening in your home by being more safety-conscious.· About five weeks ago there was a very nasty accident, fortunately nobody was injured, unlike this time.· Your dad's had a nasty accident, right?· Being able to side-slip, therefore, is a useful safety valve and has prevented many a nasty accident.
· It was a messy, nasty business, and so was much else we did.· That was the one bright spot in the whole nasty business.· Rumours had it also that there had been a little bit of nasty business first.· And what a very nasty business that turned out to be.
· I had a nasty feeling that a little tragedy was building up here.· I am beginning to have a very nasty feeling about this one.· I had the nasty feeling they'd done this before.
· Both subscriptions cost about £800 per year and both have the nasty habit of being so voluminous as to go largely unread.· Although an attractive addition to a tank, it has a nasty habit of fighting with members of its own species.· It is a simple enough message but one which has a nasty habit of being forgotten when companies decide to shed staff.· Appraisal schemes have a nasty habit of becoming complex and over sophisticated.· Yet unlikely figures often have a nasty habit of turning out to be true.
· The letter Fearon got was a very nasty piece of threatening mail.· Cyril and Wyatt had gone around together with that other boy, that Donald, who was a nasty piece of work.· You'd best steer clear of him, Manderley, he's a nasty piece of work.· A nasty piece of work, vicious and venomous as a viper!
· Next April's council elections could prove a nasty shock.· I'd have got a nasty shock otherwise.· That nasty shock should emphasize the importance of low-fat simplicity in restaurant meals while dieting.· Of course, the subject could be deceived and get a nasty shock.· Otherwise you may get a nasty shock.· They should get a nasty shock when they meet our eyes.· A nasty shock, one might say.
· Tritium is nasty stuff, and ingesting it can be fatal.
· But when you get hold of the document and look at the detail you're in for a nasty surprise.· What further nasty surprises awaited me that day?· Naturally, the tricky business of welding the Germanies together could still bring nasty surprises.· Outside, all was danger and sudden, nasty surprises.· There were rarely any nasty surprises.
· I got a nasty taste in my mouth - sort of stale like.
· What Amis has also acknowledged as a writer is that nice things aren't necessarily as funny as nasty things.· He blamed you for everything, even the accident, accusing you of awful, nasty things.· Reznor was not aware of it, however, and was somewhat surprised to find nasty things going bump in the night.· Get rid of them nasty things down your throat what's harbouring the germs.· First, John Major, though a pleasant man, had to say some nasty things about his opponents.· She said her husband seemed to be unbalanced and capable of doing nasty things to their children.· You shouldn't have done nasty things at Lily's funeral, if that's the case.· At the moment people are being indignant about literary biographies and the nasty things they are saying about their subjects.
· Gave me a nasty turn, I can tell you!
· Tackle the Ridgeway in nasty weather?
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1behaviour nasty behaviour or remarks are extremely unkind and unpleasant: - Cyril and Wyatt had gone around together with that other boy, that Donald, who was a nasty piece of work.
- You'd best steer clear of him, Manderley, he's a nasty piece of work.
a nasty temper the nasty things that were being written about her There’s a nasty streak in her character. Drivers often have a nasty habit of driving too close to cyclists.nasty to Don’t be so nasty to your mum (=do not treat her unkindly).get/turn nasty especially British English (=suddenly start behaving in a threatening way) When Harry refused, Don turned nasty and went for him with both fists.► see thesaurus at unkind2person someone who is nasty behaves in an unkind and unpleasant way: I went to school with him – he was nasty then and he’s nasty now. You’re a nasty little brute!3experience/situation a nasty experience, feeling, or situation is unpleasantnasty shock/surprise It gave me a nasty shock.nasty feeling/suspicion I had a nasty feeling that a tragedy was going to happen. Life has a nasty habit of repeating itself. He had a nasty accident while riding in the forest. When you feel you’ve been cheated, it always leaves a nasty taste in the mouth (=makes you feel upset or angry afterwards). The weather turned nasty towards the evening.4sight/smell etc having a bad appearance, smell, taste etc: What’s that nasty smell? a market stall selling cheap and nasty watches► see thesaurus at horrible5injury/illness severe or very painful: a nasty cut He was carried off the field with a nasty injury.6substance a nasty substance is dangerous: nasty chemicals7a nasty piece of work British English someone who is dishonest, violent, or likely to cause trouble—nastily adverb—nastiness noun [uncountable] → video nasty