horny

adjective

ˈhȯr-nē 

hornier; horniest

1

a

: of or made of horn (see horn sense 1d)

a horny growth

b

: having a hard calloused surface or texture

horny skin

horny-handed

c

of a mineral : compact and homogeneous with a dull luster

2

: having horns (see horn sense 1)

3

[horn erect penis + -y entry 1]

a

: desiring sexual gratification

horny teenagers

b

: excited sexually

horniness noun

Synonyms

• concupiscent
• goatish
• hot
• hypersexual
• itchy
• lascivious
• lecherous
• lewd
• libidinous
• licentious
• lubricious
• lubricous
• lustful
• oversexed
• passionate
• randy
• salacious
• satyric
• wanton

Examples of horny in a Sentence

in her view, “teenage boys are perpetually horny”

Recent Examples on the Web

Diaz is accompanied by an immortal knight, a resourceful swashbuckler, an elderly vampire, a horny werewolf and an elf who can turn invisible (using a power that reminded me of Doli from The Prydain Chronicles). —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025

Carmen’s horny, boundary-bulldozing roommate Hailee (the mononymous actor Holmes), who’s more of an accent than a model for others to follow. —Alison Herman, Variety, 15 May 2025

Directed by Martha Coolidge, Real Genius is horny, silly, and devoutly countercultural, all anchored by a handsome star with a twinkle in his eye. —John Devore, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2025

Experimental, political, and unabashedly erotic games that are both ideological and unabashedly horny are everywhere. —Linda Codega, Them, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see horn

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for horny

• corny
• thorny

Kids Definition

horny

adjective

ˈhȯr-nē 

hornier; horniest

1

: made of horn or of something resembling horn

2

: hard entry 1 sense 1, callous

the horny layer of the skin of the hands

Medical Definition

horny

adjective

ˈhȯr-nē 

hornier; horniest

1

a

: composed of or resembling tough fibrous material consisting chiefly of keratin : keratinous

horny tissue

after the horny material has been … cut away

—Morris Fishbein

b

: being hard or callused

horny-handed

2

: having horns