DictionaryAI

naughty

SayNAW-tee/ˈnɔti/UK/ˈnɔːti/

Adjectivenaughtier, naughtiest

Verbnaughties, naughtying, naughtied

6 meanings of naughty

Practice

  1. 1
    adjective
    Behaving badly and not doing what you are told, especially a child.

    Like a child who keeps breaking the rules even after being warned.

    The naughty puppy chewed up another pair of shoes.

    Stop being so naughty and pick up your toys right now.

    Similardisobedient, mischievous, bad, unruly

    Oppositegood, obedient, well-behaved

    Note
  2. 2
    adjective
    Suggesting something about sex in a playful or cheeky way.

    Like a joke that is a little rude but still meant to be funny.

    The comedian told a few naughty jokes that made everyone blush.

    She gave him a naughty wink from across the crowded room.

    Similarsaucy, racy, suggestive, provocative

    Oppositeinnocent, modest

  3. 3
    adjectivecolloquial
    Enjoyable to indulge in but a little bad for you, like rich food.

    Like eating candy right before dinner when you know you should not.

    A big slice of chocolate cake feels naughty but tastes amazing.

    We ordered a naughty takeout instead of cooking dinner.

    Similarindulgent, decadent, sinful, wicked

    Oppositevirtuous, healthy

  4. 4
    verbtransitive
    To have sex with another person.

    He wanted to naughty her, but she turned him away.

    They would naughty whoever caught their eye at the inn.

    Similarbed

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    adjectivearchaic
    Evil and very wrong in a moral way.

    In the old tale, the naughty king punished the poor without mercy.

    The story warns against naughty men who betray their friends.

    Note
  2. 6
    adjectiveobsolete
    Bad in quality and not good enough to use.
    In Cornwall is two speches, the one is naughty Englysshe, and the other is Cornysshe speche.
    1542, Andrew Boorde, The First Boke of the Introduction of KnowledgeHere, naughty means bad or poor in quality, so poor English.
    One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.
    1611, The Holy Bible, King James VersionHere, naughty means bad and worthless, so the figs could not be eaten.
    Note

Practice

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Origin

From an old English word meaning "evil" or "wicked," made from "naught" plus "-y."