Naughty
/ˈnɔːti/
adjectiveA2
Definition
Naughty means behaving in a way that is not good or breaks rules, especially for children. It often refers to small mistakes or playful bad behavior, like not listening or being a little cheeky. Adults sometimes use it in a gentle or joking way.
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⚡ See It in Action
Behaving badly or breaking small rules, often used for children
- •The naughty child drew on the walls with crayons.
- •She was naughty when she didn’t share her toys.
- •The teacher told the naughty students to sit quietly.
Playful or cheeky behavior, sometimes with a joking meaning
- •He gave a naughty smile after playing a trick on his friend.
- •The puppy was naughty but very cute.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "naughty" like "bad," but softer and often about small mistakes or fun misbehavior
- ✓Picture a child who hides cookies after being told not to eat them—that's naughty, not very bad
- ✓It's the feeling when you know you did something wrong but it was a little funny or not very serious
- ✓Sounds like "NORTH-tee" → imagine a child pointing north to hide from a parent after doing something small and cheeky
- ✓Think of the story of "The Naughty Puppy" who chews shoes but looks cute, so you don’t get very angry
- ✓NOT like "mean" (which is being unkind on purpose), "naughty" is often playful or accidental
- ✓NOT like "dangerous" (which causes harm), "naughty" is usually harmless or small trouble
- ✓NOT like "disobedient" (refuses to obey seriously), "naughty" can be a little mistake or teasing
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Misbehaving: acting badly or not following rules (Use when focusing on behavior that is not good, especially for children)
- •Cheeky: playfully rude or disrespectful (Use when the behavior is more playful and teasing)
- •Disobedient: refusing to obey rules (Use when the behavior is more serious or refusing to listen)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "naught" (old word meaning nothing or zero) + "-y" (a suffix to make adjectives)
- •Etymology: From Old English "naught" meaning "nothing" or "bad," with "-y" added to describe a person or behavior
- •Historical development: Originally meant "worthless" or "bad," now mostly used to describe small bad behavior, especially in children
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe children who do small wrong things or playful misbehavior, often said gently or jokingly
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How does the word "naughty" change when used for children versus adults?
•Can being "naughty" sometimes be a good thing, like showing creativity or independence?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The child was called naughty because he ___ the rules by drawing on the walls.
2.When someone is naughty, they usually do small ___, not serious mistakes.
3.A naughty smile often shows that a person is feeling ___ or playful.
4.Unlike being mean, being naughty is often ___ and not meant to hurt anyone.
5.Parents sometimes say "naughty" to children to ___ them gently.
6.The puppy was naughty but still very ___, so no one was angry.
7.When a child is naughty, they often need to ___ what they did wrong.