naughty

[ naw-tee ]

/ ˈnɔ ti /

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See synonyms for: naughty / naughtily / naughtiness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, naugh·ti·er, naugh·ti·est.

disobedient; mischievous (used especially in speaking to or about children): Weren't we naughty not to eat our spinach?

improper, tasteless, indecorous, or indecent: a naughty word.

Obsolete. wicked; evil.

OTHER WORDS FOR naughty

1 willful, wayward, misbehaving.

See synonyms for naughty on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of naughty

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at naught, -y¹

OTHER WORDS FROM naughty

naugh·ti·ly, adverbnaugh·ti·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use naughty in a sentence

A quick Google search for political sex scandals will lead you to pages of naughtiness, Republican and Democratic alike.
Christian Right-Wingers Love Porn: New Studies Suggest the Bible Belt Has A Kinky Side|Aurora Snow|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The danger and naughtiness that the weekend allows for and that we all hoped he'd bring over to week nights?
Seth Meyers Gets Off to a Rocky Start on 'Late Night'|Kevin Fallon|February 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For them, novelty and naughtiness were the ultimate aphrodisiacs.
Seduce Like a Writer: How 7 Famous Scribes Wooed|Joni Rendon, Shannon McKenna Schmidt|February 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tessa, in a broken voice, like the appeal of a naughty child with the naughtiness all gone, what shall I do?
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater

The spirit of naughtiness possessed me, I think, for I determined to go downstairs and find something.
The Story of the Big Front Door|Mary Finley Leonard
The spirits of the Imps are still in the buttons, and after a time they will repent and be sorry for their naughtiness.
Little Wizard Stories of Oz|L. Frank Baum
Johnny, her little companion in naughtiness, escaped without so much as a sore throat; but he suffered in another way.
Dotty Dimple At Home|Sophie May
But Evelyn apparently condoned the naughtiness; he mentioned the name of the great pink thing, and turned to Madge again.
The Angel of Pain|E. F. Benson

British Dictionary definitions for naughty

naughty

/ (ˈnɔːtɪ) /

adjective -tier or -tiest

(esp of children or their behaviour) mischievous or disobedient; bad

mildly indecent; titillating

noun plural -ties

Australian and NZ slang an act of sexual intercourse

Derived forms of naughty

naughtily, adverbnaughtiness, noun

Word Origin for naughty

C14 (originally: needy, of poor quality): from naught

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

naughty

OTHER WORDS FOR naughty

Origin of naughty

OTHER WORDS FROM naughty

Words related to naughty

How to use naughty in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for naughty

Derived forms of naughty

Word Origin for naughty