naughtily

adverb

Definition of naughtilynext
as in awfully

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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 naughtily The outsize failings of the men in power demand a grand reimagining of the consequences of those failings, and Helen of Nowhere offers up, exhilaratingly and naughtily, a myth for the man who needs to be shuffled offstage one way or another. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naughtily
  1. awfully
  2. dreadfully
  3. terribly
  4. horribly
  5. disastrously
  6. horrendously
  7. insufficiently
  8. poorly
Adverb
  • Right now, though, ripe, honey-tart peaches with soft goat cheese would be awfully good with the last sips of a Chenin Blanc.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • This could be described as assertive or confident clothing, all of the designer’s work achieves drama while in its exceptionally flattering fit, and which somehow still looks and feels awfully comfortable.
    — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of awfully
Adverb
  • Part slasher parody, part meta commentary on the structure of horror movies, and fully riotous, Behind the Mask is a dreadfully under-appreciated contribution to the subgenre that would have made for a terrific franchise.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026
  • Especially early in its career, Hum was dreadfully misclassified as just another soft-to-loud/Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana wannabe, and remained criminally under-appreciated for its heavy/stoner-friendly Midwestern shoegaze vibes long after its breakup.
    — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 16 May 2026
Definition of dreadfully
Adverb
  • His game didn't look deplorable in the Scottish Open, just a matter of not hitting it terribly close and not making many putts and then moving on.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
  • For them, getting their citizenship wasn’t terribly difficult.
    — Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
Definition of terribly
Adverb
  • Yes, this can (and usually does, IMO) go horribly wrong, but Chantelle gets it right.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 16 July 2026
  • Despite their celebratory mood, Lucky can’t quite shake the feeling that something is on the verge of going horribly awry.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 July 2026
Definition of horribly
Adverb
  • However, enforcement – both statewide and nationally – is disastrously underresourced.
    — David Michaels, Fortune, 21 June 2026
  • However, enforcement – both statewide and nationally – is disastrously underresourced.
    — David Michaels, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
Definition of disastrously
Adverb
  • Of all the horrendous nonsense we were forced to entertain this spring, none of it was more horrendously nonsensical than the idea of people vibe-coding their own cybersecurity solutions.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 18 May 2026
  • This way, the white people are exposed treating the Indigenous people horrendously — putting clothes on them, taking pictures without permission and treating them without respect.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of horrendously
Adverb
  • Like Alito’s paisanes, my Mexican family was also demonized for supposedly being insufficiently American and posing a threat to national unity.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • At times, some groups may feel overlooked or insufficiently welcomed, reminding us that inclusion is a value that must continually be expanded and reaffirmed.
    — Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of insufficiently
Adverb
  • The suggestion that Pebley’s removal was a sign that the team is performing poorly didn’t sit well with coach Lynne Roberts.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • The opposite is true in communities that score poorly, Volpe said.
    — Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 14 July 2026
Definition of poorly

Browse Nearby Words

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naughtily
naughtiness
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Cite this Entry

“Naughtily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naughtily. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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