Meaning & use
naughty
Last updated
UK/ˈnɔːti/
US/ˈnɔːti/
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Behaving badly or not obeying, especially of a child.
Grammar: After be or before a noun: a naughty child.
Patterns
- naughty of someone
The naughty puppy chewed my slippers.
Don't be naughty in the shop.
It was naughty of him to hide the keys.
adjectivecomparablehumorous
Slightly rude or improper in a playful way.
Grammar: Humorous.
She told a naughty joke.
The film has a few naughty scenes.
Word forms
| comparative | naughtier |
|---|---|
| superlative | naughtiest |
Common combinations
- naughty child
- The naughty child threw toys.
- naughty step
- He sat on the naughty step.
- naughty list
- Santa keeps a naughty list.
- a bit naughty
- It's a bit naughty to skip class.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mischievous
- Suggests playful trouble-making.
- disobedient
- Stresses not following orders.
- badly behaved
- Is plainer.
- cheeky
- Suggests slight disrespect.
Opposites
Word family
- naughtily adverb
- in a badly behaved way
- naughtiness noun
- bad behavior
Commonly confused: naughty or nautical?
naughty vs nautical
Nautical relates to ships.
Practice
Which sentence uses naughty in its main sense?
Choose one answer.
Naughty describes children or pets that behave badly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “naughty”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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