Meaning of "naughtiness" in English

Naughtiness refers to behavior that is mildly disobedient or mischievous, often in an endearing or playful manner. It typically describes actions that defy certain rules or expectations but are not considered serious or harmful. The word conveys a sense of cheeky charm and is often used to describe the playful antics of children or pets. Naughtiness can also imply a certain level of harmless rebellion or mischievousness, often eliciting amusement rather than irritation or anger.

Meaning of "méchanceté" in French

"Méchanceté" in French denotes a more serious form of unkindness or malice. It encompasses actions or words that are intentionally harmful, mean, or spiteful. Unlike "naughtiness," which can have a playful or endearing connotation, "méchanceté" suggests deliberate cruelty or harsh behavior. It may refer to someone's intent to hurt another, either emotionally or physically, and is generally perceived negatively. This term highlights the darker aspect of human behavior and interactions, often resulting in conflict or distress.

Pronunciation of "naughtiness" in English

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈnɔːti.nəs/

Pronunciation Variations: The pronunciation of "naughtiness" may have slight variations in different English-speaking regions. In British English, the "au" tends to be pronounced more noticeably as a long "o," whereas in American English, the pronunciation might be slightly softer and flatter.

Pronunciation of "méchanceté" in French

Phonetic Transcription: /me.ʃɑ̃s.te/

Pronunciation Variations: "Méchanceté" is typically pronounced uniformly in French-speaking regions. However, regional accents can influence the softness or sharpness of certain sounds, such as the pronunciation of "é" or the nasal sound "an."

Sentence examples in English and translation to French

  1. His naughtiness was evident when he hid his sister’s shoes. (Son manque de méchanceté était évident quand il a caché les chaussures de sa sœur.)
  2. The puppy's naughtiness made everyone laugh despite the mess. (La méchanceté du chiot a fait rire tout le monde malgré le désordre.)
  3. There was a hint of naughtiness in her smile. (Il y avait une pointe de méchanceté dans son sourire.)
  4. Children's naughtiness can sometimes be a sign of curiosity. (La méchanceté des enfants peut parfois être un signe de curiosité.)
  5. He blamed his naughtiness on the candy he ate earlier. (Il a imputé sa méchanceté aux bonbons qu'il avait mangés plus tôt.)
  6. Naughtiness is often forgivable when it's done in fun. (La méchanceté est souvent pardonnable quand elle est faite pour s'amuser.)
  7. The teacher overlooked the naughtiness because the prank was harmless. (L'enseignant a ignoré la méchanceté parce que la farce était inoffensive.)
  8. She enjoyed the naughtiness of sneaking a midnight snack. (Elle a apprécié la méchanceté de grignoter une collation à minuit.)
  9. his sense of naughtiness was infectious at the party. (Son sens de la méchanceté était contagieux à la fête.)
  10. Even the cat's naughtiness was endearing to its owner. (Même la méchanceté du chat était attachante pour son propriétaire.)

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "naughtiness" in English

Synonyms: mischievousness, misbehavior, impishness, cheekiness, disobedience, troublemaking, rascality, prankishness, antics, roguery.

Antonyms: obedience, good behavior, compliance, kindness, niceness, conformity, gentleness, politeness, discipline, agreement.

Similar Words: playfulness, naught, mischief, friskiness, frolicsomeness, devilry, devilment, mischief-making, exuberance, spiritedness.

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "méchanceté" in French

Synonyms: cruauté, malice, hostilité, vilenie, malveillance, acrimonie, perfidie, mauvaiseté, vilipenderie, malignité.

Antonyms: bonté, gentillesse, bienveillance, amabilité, douceur, générosité, bienfaisance, charité, indulgence, clémence.

Similar Words: mal, malfaisance, inhumanité, animosité, haine, rancœur, rancune, mépris, hostilité, violence.

Disclaimer: These examples may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Translate.com, or its company Translate LLC. We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to our team.

Reach the world with ease! Use human-powered translations to ensure your message is understood by all. Available in 110+ language pairs
Order human translation

Translate naughtiness into other languages