What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
nasty
Example
The food tasted nasty and I couldn't eat it. [nasty: adjective]
Example
He made a nasty comment about her appearance. [nasty: adjective]
Example
I had a nasty fall and hurt my knee. [nasty: adjective]
repulsive
Example
The smell from the garbage was repulsive and made me feel sick. [repulsive: adjective]
Example
His repulsive behavior towards women was unacceptable. [repulsive: adjective]
Example
The thought of eating bugs is repulsive to many people. [repulsive: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Nasty is more commonly used in everyday language, while repulsive is less common and is more likely to be used in formal writing or academic contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between nasty and repulsive?
Repulsive is more formal and academic than nasty, which can have a more colloquial or informal connotation.
