naughty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "naughty" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone, often a child or a pet, who behaves in a mischievous or disobedient manner. Example: "The puppy was being naughty, chewing on the furniture when no one was watching."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But there has to be one, because although most squatters just need somewhere to live and often maintain mouldering, neglected buildings and save them from terminal collapse and vandalism, what about the few really naughty squatters, who make a mess and noise, pretend to be artists and pinch your home while you're on hols or in hospital?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Tourists squeezed into the Casa dei Vettii to look at the naughty frescos, like punters in a Soho peepshow.

The Guardian - Travel

The point is, July and August have a habit of distilling the wheat from the chaff; these months demand that you maintain, or improve, you standards, else you'll be banished to the naughty corner or a fate even worse (like an elimination final).

The Guardian - Sport

But I don't want it to sound like all this is about making naughty people good.

The Guardian

They looked for all the world like naughty teenagers who had escaped a party to take part in a séance.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Muriel Gray, chair of the board of governors (who has vowed that her first act will be to re-carve the naughty graffiti she engraved into the library woodwork as a student) has stated that the school of art "will die if it becomes a museum".

The Guardian - Arts

It seems so completely unlikely that this ridiculously wholesome woman would prove essential to my festive cheer and yet, whether it was Mary Poppins or Maria, my sisters and I spent our childhood Christmases watching her gather up various naughty children, and boss and cajole them into behaving properly.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It would be equally nice if the media didn't portray unmarried men as naughty schoolboys, terrified of those crazed women lurking around every corner waiting to kidnap them and take them to the altar.

The Guardian - Opinion

From the back, next to the naughty kids pinging bands at each other, we listened to the gospel choir's hair-raising harmonies and a minister preaching about Jesus "a rumblin' in the tomb".

The Guardian - Travel

I giggle like a child in the afternoon sun, feeling naughty for being so peaceful.

The Guardian - Travel

Children are also great viral video fodder, especially when they've done something naughty.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions, use "naughty" to soften the tone of misbehavior, especially in contexts involving children or pets. This helps to convey a sense of lightheartedness rather than severe disapproval.

Common error

Avoid using "naughty" in professional or academic writing where more precise terms like "inappropriate" or "unethical" would be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The word "naughty" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe someone or something exhibiting misbehavior or a playful form of impropriety. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Lifestyle

10%

Sport

8%

Less common in

Travel

8%

Opinion

2%

Arts

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "naughty" is a versatile adjective used to describe misbehavior or playful impropriety. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used, primarily in informal contexts but also appearing in news and lifestyle publications. While alternatives like "mischievous" or "disobedient" may be more appropriate in formal settings, "naughty" serves as a useful term for conveying a sense of lighthearted misbehavior or mild indecency. Remember to consider your audience and context when choosing whether to use "naughty".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cheeky

Indicates playful impudence or disrespect.

mischievous

Focuses on the playful and harmless aspect of misbehavior.

rascal

A playful term for someone who is mischievous.

disobedient

Emphasizes the act of defying rules or commands.

badly behaved

A straightforward description of poor conduct.

improper

Suggests a violation of social norms or etiquette.

wicked

Implies a more serious or malevolent form of wrongdoing.

rogue

Indicates a deviation from expected or acceptable behavior.

rowdy

Implies boisterous and disorderly conduct.

wayward

Describes someone who is difficult to control or guide.

FAQs

What does the word "naughty" mean?

The word "naughty" generally means behaving badly or disobediently, especially of a child. It can also imply being sexually suggestive or slightly indecent.

How to use "naughty" in a sentence?

You can use "naughty" to describe someone's behavior, such as "The child was being "mischievous" and wouldn't listen." It can also describe something suggestive, like "a "risque" joke".

What can I say instead of "naughty"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "mischievous", "disobedient", "badly behaved", or "risque".

Is it correct to say "naughty behavior"?

Yes, "naughty behavior" is a common and acceptable phrase to describe actions that are disobedient or inappropriate, particularly in a playful or mild way.