naughtyadjective
uk/ˈnɔː.ti/us/ˈnɑː.t̬i/naughty adjective (BADLY BEHAVED)
B2 When children are naughty, or their behaviour is naughty, they behave badly or do not do what they are told to do:
Now that's naughty - don't throw food on the floor!
Our boss treats us all like naughty children.
mainly UK used slightly humorously to describe an adult who has behaved badly or an adult's bad action:
"I'm afraid I borrowed your car without asking." "Yes, that was very naughty of you - I needed it at the weekend!"
More examples
- He overheard his daughter telling her teddy not to be so naughty.
- We just sat there giggling like naughty schoolchildren.
- You're going to get a smack on the bottom if you don't stop being such a naughty boy.
- You've been a very naughty boy!
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Bad and wrong behaviour
- act
- act out
- act up
- angel
- astray
- at your worst idiom
- be no angel idiom
- cross
- go off the rails idiom
- go round
- impossible
- incorrigible
- indecorous
- rail
- rough
- step
- step out of line idiom
- step/be out of line idiom
- terrible twins
- try it on idiom
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Disobedient
naughty adjective (SEXUAL)
informal humorous involving or suggesting sex:
The film was shown on television but they cut out all the naughty scenes.
He always buys her naughty underwear for her birthday.
naughtily
adverb uk/ˈnɔː.təl.i/us/ˈnɑː.t̬əl.i/
naughtiness
noun [ U ] uk/ˈnɔː.ti.nəs/us/ˈnɑː.t̬i.nəs/