naughty

adjective

naugh·​ty ˈnȯ-tē How to pronounce naughty (audio) ˈnä- How to pronounce naughty (audio)
naughtier; naughtiest
1
a
: guilty of disobedience or misbehavior
a naughty child
b
archaic : vicious in moral character : wicked
2
: lacking in taste or propriety
No naughty jokes in front of the children, please!
naughtily adverb
naughtiness noun

Examples of naughty in a Sentence

She gave him a naughty smile. told her to act her age and stop throwing temper tantrums like a naughty little girl
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Perfect for those naughty and nice, vacation destinations throughout the world are offering guests a holiday extravaganza designed to entertain and amaze. Roger Sands, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 My sense is that people infatuated with this tinpot Marxist analysis enjoy the rush of feeling like the naughty provocateur without paying any real price for transgression. Lily Burana, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024 Stephen may have a flip-book of naughty photos, but his real weapon is his will to destroy. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024 And be sure to attend the Saint Nicholas Parade and Krampus Run in Igls — those on the nice list get a small gift, while those who have been naughty can expect a little fright. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for naughty 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English noughti, from nought

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of naughty was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near naughty

Cite this Entry

“Naughty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naughty. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

naughty

adjective
naugh·​ty ˈnȯt-ē How to pronounce naughty (audio)
ˈnät-
naughtier; naughtiest
: behaving badly or improperly
naughtily adverb
naughtiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on naughty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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