naughtier; naughtiest
1
: behaving badly
—used especially to describe a child who does not behave properly or obey a parent, teacher, etc.
a naughty [=bad] boy/girl
Were you naughty today at school or did you obey the teacher?
—sometimes used humorously to describe an adult who does something slightly wrong or improperI was naughty and cheated on my diet.
2
informal
: relating to or suggesting sex in usually a playful way
She gave him a naughty smile.
No naughty [=dirty] jokes in front of the children, please!
a naughty outfit
Cite this Entry
“Naughty.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/naughty. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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