NASTINESS Synonyms: 184 Similar and Opposite Words

nastiness

noun

Definition of nastiness

as in malice

the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm there was a natural nastiness about him that was evident from the time he was a small child

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grossness

the quality or state of being obscene the nastiness of the graffiti required that the school remove it immediately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dustiness

the state or quality of being dirty the piles of rotting food in the kitchen were only one element in the apartment's general impression of appalling nastiness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 nastiness When the Indiana Fever in 2024 drafted Caitlin Clark, the leading scorer in NCAA history—male or female—the league’s audience exploded, but so did the culture war nastiness. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 22 Aug. 2026 The nastiness of intellectual disputes, therefore, depends in part on how people frame their positions. — Andras Molnar, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026 At this point, there's reason to wonder when and if the WNBA can move past the nastiness and racial hysteria that have defined the past few seasons. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026 The bullpen ranks 30th in FanGraphs’ Stuff+ metric, which more or less measures the nastiness of a pitcher’s arsenal. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 24 June 2026 Just as surprising as all of the nastiness is the turn that happens mid-movie. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026 Over the last three local election cycles, the nastiness has come from some interloper. — Haven Shoemaker, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2026 The source material is occasionally witty and obsessive, but also carries a tone of unremitting nastiness. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026 Now that we’re retired, most of our trips are during off-peak hours, and the experience is too often very unpleasant either because of nastiness of one kind or another or delays. — Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nastiness

Noun

Good intentions can become intentional malice when policymakers ignore clear warnings and leave taxpayers stuck with the bill.

— Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026
Takamura tasks Musashi with eliminating the malice that has spread around the city.

— Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of malice

Noun

But Paddy’s isn’t Sudz, and the Gang’s efforts to soft-pedal their antics to be more in line with those mainstream bars devolved into typical Sunny-style hostility and off-putting grossness.

— Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
All your Dad has to do is fill it and drink—the microfilter membrane will do the rest by removing chlorine odors, dirt, bacteria, and any other grossness floating around in there.

— Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026

Definition of grossness

Noun

Deputies tried to keep the man alert and clam to help avoid the venom's spread before medical personnel arrived, the Facebook post stated.

— Christian Cervantes, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Veterinarians determined that the snake's venom poisoned Samba, prompting them to give her antivenin.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of venom

Noun

His hatred of the Islamic State group appears genuine, and American cooperation with Damascus against the terrorist network will benefit the Syrians who suffered most under its rule.

— Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Yet Christ Jesus consistently refused to let fear, hatred, or sin define his view of anyone’s identity.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of hatred

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nastily

nastiness

nasty

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“Nastiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nastiness. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of nastiness

noun

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