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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Nasty: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：disgusting or revolting (nasty)

nasty 🔊

/ˈnɑːsti/

adj.

Very bad, unpleasant, or disgusting, often in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Nasty meaning illustrated by moldy bread showing something disgusting and revolting.

disgusting or revolting 🔊

➕

/dɪsˈɡʌstɪŋ ɔːr rɪˈvəʊltɪŋ/

adj.

Describes something extremely unpleasant, dirty, or physically repulsive.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Likely from Dutch or Low German 'nestig', meaning 'dirty' or 'foul'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'nasty' as 'Not A STerling qualitY' — something far from excellent or pleasant.

📖 Example

I opened the fridge and found a piece of cheese covered in nasty green mold. 🔊 I opened the fridge and found a piece of cheese covered in disgusting green mold.

🔗 Collocations

nasty smell – an extremely unpleasant odor

nasty habit – a bad or annoying personal habit

nasty shock – a very unpleasant surprise

🔄 Synonyms

disgusting (adj.) – arousing revulsion or strong indignation

foul (adj.) – offensive to the senses, especially through having a disgusting smell or taste

repulsive (adj.) – arousing intense distaste or disgust

🚫 Antonyms

pleasant (adj.) – giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment

agreeable (adj.) – enjoyable and pleasurable

🌱 Derivatives

nastiness (n.) – the quality or state of being nasty

📖 Cultural Story

In American slang, 'nasty' can describe something impressively difficult or unpleasant, as in a 'nasty curveball' in baseball or a 'nasty' (challenging) problem in computing.

Meaning 2：mean or spiteful (nasty)

nasty 🔊

/ˈnɑːsti/

adj.

Unkind, mean, or intended to upset or hurt someone's feelings.

Nasty behavior example showing a mean social media comment intended to hurt.

mean or spiteful 🔊

➕

/miːn ɔːr ˈspaɪtfʊl/

adj.

Describes behavior, speech, or a person that is unkind, malicious, or intended to hurt.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

She made a few nasty comments about his presentation on social media, which really upset him. 🔊 She made a few mean comments about his presentation on social media, which really upset him.

🔗 Collocations

nasty remark – a hurtful or unkind comment

nasty temper – a tendency to become angry and mean easily

nasty look – a facial expression showing anger or dislike

🔄 Synonyms

spiteful (adj.) – showing or caused by malice

malicious (adj.) – characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm

vicious (adj.) – deliberately cruel or violent

🚫 Antonyms

kind (adj.) – having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature

benevolent (adj.) – well meaning and kindly