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

• passionate
• hot
• lustful

Examples of horny in a Sentence

in her view, “teenage boys are perpetually horny”

Recent Examples on the Web

This Mary is horny, drunk, and completely belligerent about her dream of being a cabaret star. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025

All those great ‘70s horny classics that are perverse classics were all censored. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2025

Murphy barely generates a chuckle as a weary veteran intent on getting home for his anniversary (Eva Longoria, wasted as his wife) while Davidson’s horny puppy dog shtick wears thin after minute 10. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025

Jake is still extremely horny for Tess. —Esther Zuckerman, Vulture, 8 Aug. 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