naughtiness

UK: /ˈnɔːtinɪs/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

naugh•ty /ˈnɔti/   adj., -ti•er, -ti•est. 

1. disobedient; mischievous:
   naughty children.
2. improper or indecent:
   a naughty word.

naugh•ti•ly /ˈnɔtli/  adv. 
naugh•ti•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

naugh•ty  (nô′tē), adj., -ti•er, -ti•est. 

1. disobedient;
   mischievous (used esp. in speaking to or about children):
   Weren't we naughty not to eat our spinach?
2. improper, tasteless, indecorous, or indecent:
   a naughty word.
3. [Obs.] wicked;
   evil.

• 1350–1400; Middle English; see naught, -y¹

naugh′ti•ly, adv. 
naugh′ti•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. . willful, wayward, misbehaving.