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nasty

[nas-tee] / ˈnæs ti /






Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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"Just because a dog is big and muscular doesn't mean it's nasty."

From BBC Jul. 1, 2026

Initially describing the question as "strange", Trump said: "Nobody did it on purpose. Mistakes are made, war is nasty."

From Barron's Jun. 17, 2026

History has also taught us that the gods like to dish out nasty surprises every few years: dot-com bubbles, subprime mortgage crises, pandemics, etc.

From MarketWatch Jun. 16, 2026

The nasty, brutish view prevailed and its cynical operating principle was applied: “The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 15, 2026

Clare shot a nasty look at the sky all around, hoping the Afterlife got the message.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

And keep in mind, the repellent you apply to keep mosquitoes away will also help ward off the other nasties like ticks and black flies.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 6, 2024

Think of what you step in outside: Shoes can carry all kinds of nasties, including pesticides and bacteria such as E. coli.

From Seattle Times Apr. 15, 2024

AMR is a broad phenomenon, but simply describes when our tools defending against deadly microscopic nasties stop working.

From Salon Mar. 9, 2024

The researchers tested the principles of AI-aided antibiotic discovery in E. coli in 2020, but have now used that knowledge to focus on the big nasties.

From BBC May 25, 2023

I looked around the band hall, sure that Rachel was going to make a bunch of bloodthirsty nasties pop out of the walls; but we were still alone.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan

The nobler the cause, the nastier the graft.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 5, 2025

Before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel was the championship leader, but events in Baku turned the fight nastier.

From BBC Oct. 31, 2024

L.A. is definitely changing, but watching Easy navigate its nastier vicissitudes while speaking truth to power is “Farewell, Amethystine’s” — and this enduring series’ — North Star.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 19, 2024

All but two expect a busier, nastier summer and fall for hurricanes.

From Seattle Times May 23, 2024

“Have a good term,” said Uncle Vernon with an even nastier smile.

From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

This is Amis at his nastiest and best, skewering a world he knew intimately.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 5, 2025

He told called the question “nasty” and told the reporter, “don’t ever say what you said,” because “that’s a nasty question. To me, that’s the nastiest question.”

From Slate May 31, 2025

He and his young son, who is Black, were the subjects of some of the nastiest attacks on the leaked audio.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 6, 2024

One of the largest, priciest and nastiest proxy contests in history will come to a head on Wednesday, when Disney is scheduled to virtually host its annual shareholder meeting.

From New York Times Apr. 3, 2024

He had been working with the boys' relay on the field and was now walking toward Lu and Ghost, letting out the nastiest cackle ever.

From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds




Vocabulary lists containing nasty


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