What does naughtiest mean?
Naughtiest is the superlative form of the adjective naughty. It describes the person or thing that is more naughty than all others in a comparison, usually among children, pets, or a group of people. The word carries a playful, familiar tone in everyday use and is often part of a gentle reprimand or an affectionate joke: the naughtiest child may have hidden a toy, pulled a cat’s tail, or forgotten an instruction. In more serious contexts, however, it can describe persistently disruptive or disobedient behaviour. Its comparison with other forms is straightforward: naughty is the base form, naughtier is the comparative, and naughtiest is the superlative. The word is especially associated with family conversations, school settings, and humorous descriptions of animals, where it is milder than words suggesting cruelty, profound wickedness, or serious moral failure.
adjectiveNaughtiest is the superlative form of naughty, meaning more naughty than anyone or anything else in a group.
- The superlative of naughty: more naughty than anyone or anything else in a group.
"The naughtiest child in the class was asked to stay behind and tidy up."
"That was the naughtiest thing the puppy had done all day."
"Among the three children, Jacob was the naughtiest, though he felt guilty afterward."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How naughtiest is actually used
The word is informal and often affectionate or playful, especially when referring to children or mischievous animals. It can also be used more critically when describing repeated or serious misconduct.
Easily confused with naughtiest
Naughty is the base adjective, while naughtiest is its superlative form, used to compare more than two people or things.
Naught is an old variant of nought meaning 'nothing', whereas naughtiest is the superlative of naughty.