nastily
nastily — adverb
1. showing a cruel or mean attitude toward another person through what you say, the
showing a cruel or mean attitude toward another person through what you say, the way you look at them, or how you treat them.
Elena's boss replied nastily when she arrived late, embarrassing her in front of everyone.
collocation: replied / commented / spoke + nastily
The children laughed nastily at Ishaan when he tripped over the backpack in the hallway.
collocation: laughed nastily at someone
Zola glanced nastily at the new employee and then turned away without saying a word.
Sophia spoke nastily to the waiter, which made everyone at the table feel deeply uncomfortable.
Rania's stepmother treated her nastily for years, reminding her she was not a real daughter.
- cruelly
emphasises causing pain or suffering, stronger than nastily
- harshly
focuses on strictness or severity rather than meanness
- spitefully
implies a deliberate wish to hurt or offend
文法句型
modifies verbs of speech, looks, or behaviour
用法筆記
Commonly pairs with verbs of speaking (replied, said, commented) and verbs of looking (glanced, stared, looked).
常見錯誤
2. used to describe something that is very bad, uncomfortable, or threatening in it
used to describe something that is very bad, uncomfortable, or threatening in its appearance, taste, smell, or effect — for example, a wound that looks seriously infected, weather that turns bitterly cold, or a smell that is deeply unpleasant.
The wound on Mira's leg had become nastily infected, so the doctor prescribed strong antibiotics.
collocation: become + nastily + adjective (infected, swollen)
The weather turned nastily cold that afternoon, with freezing rain and strong winds.
collocation: weather + turned + nastily + adjective
Yumi's cough sounded nastily dry, as if something was stuck deep inside her chest.
The kitchen smelled nastily of burnt oil and rotten vegetables after the power cut.
Caleb's phone screen shattered nastily when it hit the concrete floor of the car park.
- unpleasantly
softer and more general than nastily
- horribly
stronger, suggests shock or disgust
- badly
more common, less intense
- pleasantly
giving a comfortable or enjoyable feeling
- nicely
in an agreeable or attractive way
文法句型
modifies adjectives describing negative conditions
modifies verbs of sensory perception
用法筆記
Often appears with verbs of sensory experience (smell, taste, sound, feel) or with verbs of change (become, turn, get) to describe a worsening condition.