naughty

adjective

ˈnȯ-tē How to pronounce naughty (audio)
Definition of naughtynext
as in mischievous
engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior told her to act her age and stop throwing temper tantrums like a naughty little girl

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of naughty Has Greta eaten or chewed on anything naughty? — Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026 The play was naughty stuff in 1925, when the show, starring Tallulah Bankhead, got banned. — Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 15 May 2026 His tics are not naughty mischief, but an uncontrollable action. — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026 Paltrow has been savvy at selling herself as naughty and nice. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for naughty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naughty
  1. mischievous
  2. bad
Adjective
  • Paramount Great Again hat, but didn’t expect the mischievous executive to turn up in Edinburgh wearing the headgear.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Reports from across the UK show the mischievous character lurking outside windows and startling passersby.
    — Gina Park, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of mischievous
Adjective
  • Poor Anton has been left out of the drama all day, an effort by Billie and Samir to prevent an already bad futzing from escalating to something severe, and that’s never where Anton likes to be.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Although rarely seen, its reemergence earlier this summer is a signal of how bad the region’s ongoing drought has gotten, as well as a warning for the difficult months ahead.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of bad

Browse Nearby Words

naughts
naughty
nausea
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Cite this Entry

“Naughty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naughty. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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