[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/naughty/)

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# naughty

adjective (naughty, naughtier, naughtiest)

«naughty» in the English dictionary: everyday and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Naughty describes a child or pet that behaves badly or does not obey. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/naughty/#m1)
2. Naughty can describe something a bit rude or not proper, in a joking way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/naughty/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories and everyday life, especially with young children, naughty means misbehaving; Santa's «naughty or nice» list is a well-known idea. Phrases: «naughty step», «naughty or nice», «a naughty puppy».

### Examples

- The naughty puppy chewed my shoe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/naughty/#x1)
- Don't be naughty in class. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/naughty/#x2)
- He was sent to the naughty step. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/naughty/#x3)
- Santa checks who's naughty or nice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/naughty/#x4)
- My little sister was naughty and hid the remote. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/naughty/#x5)
- It was naughty of you to eat all the biscuits! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/naughty/#x6)
- The naughty kitten knocked over the vase. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/naughty/#x7)
- You naughty children--how could you be so disobedient? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/naughty/#x8)

### Note

Comparison: naughtier, naughtiest (y to i). Mostly used about children and pets; about adults it sounds funny or joking. The «gh» is silent: NAW-tee.

## Early Modern English

### Meaning

Bad, worthless or wicked; of no value. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/naughty/#m1)

### Then and now

Today it means a child who behaves badly; the old sense of worthless or wicked is no longer used, and the sentences use today's sense.

### Examples

- I never knew her so naughty before.” (Peter Pan) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/naughty/#x1)
- You naughty children--how could you be so disobedient? (The Book of Dragons) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/naughty/#x2)
- “Fie!” said he. “How naughty a boy Cupid is! (Andersen's Fairy Tales) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/naughty/#x3)

### Note

Today: worthless, wicked.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «naughty» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/naughty/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«naughty» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/naughty.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «naughty» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/naughty/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«naughty» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/naughty.html) on Mova free.