# naughty

Pronunciation: say "NAW-tee" US /ˈnɔti/, UK /ˈnɔːti/

## Adjective

1. Behaving badly or disobediently, tending to misbehave, especially of a child.
   - Simple: Behaving badly and not doing what you are told, especially a child.
   - _The teacher kept the naughty children inside during recess._
   - _Their youngest is naughty, forever testing how far the rules will bend._
2. Sexually provocative; in modern weakened use, merely risqué or cheeky.
   - Simple: Suggesting something about sex in a playful or cheeky way.
   - _The magazine ran a naughty photo spread that scandalized its older readers._
   - _Their anniversary weekend involved champagne and some decidedly naughty lingerie._
3. Indulgent or decadent, enjoyed as a treat, especially one that is unhealthy. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Enjoyable to indulge in but a little bad for you, like rich food.
   - _She allowed herself a naughty second helping of dessert._
   - _A glass of wine on a weeknight felt deliciously naughty._

## Verb

4. To engage in sexual acts with another person.
   - Simple: To have sex with another person.
   - _The rake boasted he could naughty any maid he fancied._
   - _She refused to let the stranger naughty her behind the tavern._

## Adjective

5. Evil, wicked, or morally reprehensible. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: Evil and very wrong in a moral way.
   - _The preacher denounced the naughty deeds of the town's corrupt magistrate._
   - _Scripture condemns the naughty heart that turns away from goodness._
6. Bad, worthless, or below an acceptable standard. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Bad in quality and not good enough to use.

## Origin

From late Middle English noughti or naughty ("evil, immoral, wicked"), from nought ("evil, immoral") plus the adjective-forming suffix -y; analysable as naught + -y.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/naughty (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).