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.
Campy, naughty, a little shocking, and a little old hat, The White Lotus’s third season has its flaws and its hang-ups, without question. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025 This isn't the first time a dog has been caught out doing something naughty, such as the large dog who was caught on camera indulging in some unattended cake at a coffee shop. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025 His subsequent performance was jubilant and a bit naughty. Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2025 The effect, as customer Dave Harwood of Orlando noted on his way out the door, was not particularly naughty. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“Naughty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naughty. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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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