These adjectives overlap, but they do not always sound equally strong or suit the same situation. Your choice depends on your reaction, the context, and how casual you want to sound.
- Icky is informal and often sounds mild, playful, or childlike. It describes something unpleasant to touch, see, or think about: My hands feel icky after touching that slime. Adults also use it for an uncomfortable feeling about someone’s behavior.
- Gross is a common informal reaction to something disgusting, especially dirt, bodily fluids, or bad habits: Talking with your mouth full is gross. It usually sounds more direct than playful.
- Nasty is broader. Something can be unpleasant or dirty: There was a nasty smell in the hallway. A person or remark can also be unkind: That was a nasty thing to say.
- Disgusting directly expresses strong disgust, whether physical or moral: The way they treated the workers was disgusting. It works in both everyday and more serious discussion.
- Revolting emphasizes intense disgust, often at a smell, taste, or sight: The soup had a revolting texture. It can also describe behavior.
- Vile is very strong. It can describe something extremely unpleasant: The medicine tasted vile. For behavior, it can express serious moral condemnation: They subjected her to vile abuse.
There is no fixed strength ladder: tone and context can make even a casual word sound forceful.