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
Relevance
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
Your little girl was a little -- your littlest girl was a little naughty.
—
ABC News, 8 Feb. 2026
A little naughty, a little nice, kitten heels offer nine-to-five wear in polished yet practical form.
—Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
Likewise, Alexander’s Hannah is the naughty girl who deserves to be punished for rudely moving in on Lucy’s crush, Nick (Benjamin Cheng).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
From horrifying films about a snowman's murderous rampage and folkloric Christmas demons who terrorize not-so-nice families to comedies with a bit of edge and raunchy humor, these titles would certainly make Santa's naughty list.
—Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for naughty
ABC News, 8 Feb. 2026
A little naughty, a little nice, kitten heels offer nine-to-five wear in polished yet practical form.
—Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
Likewise, Alexander’s Hannah is the naughty girl who deserves to be punished for rudely moving in on Lucy’s crush, Nick (Benjamin Cheng).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
From horrifying films about a snowman's murderous rampage and folkloric Christmas demons who terrorize not-so-nice families to comedies with a bit of edge and raunchy humor, these titles would certainly make Santa's naughty list.
—Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for naughty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naughty
Adjective
-
The Ospreys – a mischievous bird of prey – have returned.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Labubu, the vinyl plush collectible with a snaggletoothed grin and knowingly mischievous eyes, has become a viral sensation and one of China’s fastest-rising exports.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Bernadine appeared to be useless—or, worse, a potential double agent.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
This is very bad for our health.—
Peter D'Oench,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Naughty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naughty. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
