naughtiness
naughtinesses
Naughtiness is a quality of being just a little bit bad. Harmless mischief like sneaking an extra cookie is an example of naughtiness.
You might get scolded for naughtiness, but you won't get in serious trouble. In fact, this noun is most often used to describe the mild misbehavior of children or pets: "I shouldn't have been surprised when the puppy shredded the Sunday newspaper, since puppies are known for their naughtiness." This word, along with naughty, comes from an Old English word meaning "good for nothing."
Definitions of naughtiness
-
an attribute of mischievous children
-
synonyms:
badness, mischievousness
-
types:
-
prankishness, rascality, roguishness
the trait of indulging in disreputable pranks
-
type of:
-
disobedience
the trait of being unwilling to obey
-
prankishness, rascality, roguishness
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘naughtiness'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback
Word Family
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Look up naughtiness for the last time
Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.
